Skylark 2017-18

The Haberdashers’ Aske’s Boys’ School Nurturing Excellence

MAGA Z INE 201 7/1 8

WELCOME & CONTENTS

WELCOME IT IS MY VERY REAL PLEASURE TO INTRODUCE THIS TRULY WONDERFUL EDITION OF SKYLARK TO YOU. I commend it to you most warmly, encapsulating as it does so many of the incredible activities our pupils, your sons, undertake at Habs as they progress through the School.

It is indeed a privilege to witness their development from studious, well-rounded boys into our future national and global leaders, who will have such a positive impact on the world around them as they journey through their lives.

Skylark has a fantastic way of capturing the most vividly memorable events and experiences from the perspective of those who matter most, our pupils. You will get their special perspective on a kaleidoscope of trips, musical events, theatrical performances and sporting highlights and you will read also about the insatiable charitable and voluntary work they undertake. These all sit seamlessly alongside their deeply impressive academic endeavours.

It is this intense involvement with communities, with other individuals and with each other that helps shape them through their learning experience at Habs.

I am immensely grateful to the team of boys and staff who have so carefully crafted these reports and I am sure you will enjoy the delightful stories that follow.

With warmest good wishes,

PETER HAMILTON HEADMASTER

CONTENTS TRIPS

04

CLUBS & SOCIETIES

21

EVENTS

25

ORIGINALS - DESIGN & TECHNOLOGY

33

ORIGINALS - LITERATURE

41

ORIGINALS - ART

44

FEATURES

50

MUSIC

64

DRAMA

70

SPORT

76

HOUSES

85

CHARITY MATTERS

89

SCS, OL & CCF

93

COMMUNITY

109

PREP & PRE-PREP

114

COMMON ROOM

122

WELCOME & CONTENTS

FROM THE EDITOR Departing from Habs, where I have spent so much of my life being taught, guided and shaped by the incredible community around me, my excitement for the future is tinged with sadness at what I am leaving behind. It is the outstanding qualities and warmth of the people who fill the beautiful grounds and phenomenal facilities that make the School the wonderful place it is.

Since being announced The Sunday Times Independent School of the Year 2017, Habs has gone from strength to strength, continuing to invest in the academic and pastoral support of all its students. As well as hosting countless speakers, outreach days and OH reunions, the School has excelled in its regular events, from the Barbican Concert and the Mencap Funday to HABSMUN and its sporting fixtures. The plethora of co-curricular activities and trips are but a small part of what is on offer to enhance the lives of those at Habs.

This edition is a collection of memories and experiences that will last a lifetime and they are immortalised in these pages. Along with Mr Hamilton, Mr Judd and Mr Wilson, we say goodbye to Mr Bagguley, Dr Barry, Miss Bird, Mr Holmes and Mr Dathan, each a core part of the staff body and deeply rooted within their respective departments. All of our leavers this year will be greatly missed, regardless of how long they have been at the School.

I am hugely grateful to the incredible Skylark team, who have been so thoroughly determined and dedicated to bringing you the very best stories we have to offer. Mrs O’Hare has been instrumental in bringing everything to fruition and it has been an honour and a delight to work alongside such a fantastically supportive team.

All the very best,

RISHI-NAYAN VARODARIA EDITOR

I hope you enjoy reading about what members of the Habs community have been up to over the last year, in the words of the students and staff themselves.

FROM THE SCHOOL CAPTAIN Receiving a copy of Skylark, hot off the press, will always be one of the highlights of the school year. Students, staff, parents and Governors delve into these pages and relive the excitement of the past year at Habs. Thanks must be given to Rishi-Nayan Varodaria and the entire Skylark team, who have sweated and toiled to make this edition of Skylark as special and impressive as ever.

From a superb concert at the Barbican to an Apache helicopter landing on the cricket square, it has been a fantastic year, full of academic and co-curricular opportunities that we Habs boys are lucky enough to enjoy. Congratulations to all for your many achievements, including a 1st XV rugby victory over Watford Grammar at the Allianz Stadium, putting on another successful Mencap Funday and much more.

Skylark also features a section for the six Houses. The competition this year has been fierce as boys have battled it out on epic stages. As I write this, Joblings and Russells chase the coat-tails of Meadows for the Crossman Shield – who will come out on top?

Another great moment from this year was welcoming back Old Haberdashers, Matt Lucas and Ashley Blaker, who shared hilarious memories with us from their days of prank calling teachers and Creme Egg-eating competitions.

Unfortunately, as the school year comes to a close, we say goodbye to a few long-serving members of staff, such as Mr Holmes and Mr Dathan, both living legends of the DT Department, and of course our illustrious Headmaster who is ending an era at Habs, Mr Hamilton, whom I wish a happy and well-earned retirement.

Enjoy reading and have a great holiday!

MAX GOLDSTONE SCHOOL CAPTAIN

Skylark 2017/18 ~ 01

WELCOME & CONTENTS

FROM THE DESIGN EDITOR Being able to contribute artistically to this edition of Skylark has been thrilling and it has been wonderful to see the ideas we set out a year ago come to fruition through the rebranding of the magazine. It has been great to be part of a team with such a diverse range of talents and the variety of contributions everyone has made is embodied in these pages. Helping to edit particular sections has also been a joy along with assembling the multitude of high quality images displayed within. I can only hope our designs are well-liked

and carried forward in the future, but more importantly than the aesthetics of the magazine is the content we have included, showcasing the wonderful events that the School and its students take part in.

Happy reading!

SOLOMON SPERBER DESIGN EDITOR

FROM THE ASSISTANT EDITORS

Assembling an issue of Skylark is in many ways analogous to spinning plates. It takes a colossal effort to keep everything ticking over; be that ensuring articles are continually submitted, collating photos to complement the written content, or perhaps most crucially, enforcing deadlines for work to be submitted.

It has been a great honour to have worked on this landmark edition and a pleasure to have worked alongside a great group of people in our collective endeavour to cover all aspects of school life over the past year. Thanks must go to the whole team for their sustained efforts throughout the year, and in particular Rishi, without whose selfless commitment to the process this year’s publication would never have seen the light of day. I hope you will find that we have done justice to all the wonderful goings-on over the past year at Habs, and that this magazine will, in years to come, serve as a pleasant reminder of great times at Elstree.

ABHIRAM BIBEKAR ASSISTANT EDITOR 02 ~ Skylark 2017/18

Editing Skylark been a real privilege, not least because it’s made me fondly reminisce about my last year here by sifting through these pages but also because it has opened my eyes as to just how much goes on at Habs, and how fortunate I have been to benefit from this. We hope that this issue helps capture the vast range of events and goings-on which define life here; perhaps you may find something new that interests you moving forward given how much is on offer! Whilst editing, I enjoyed looking at the Art and Literature sections in particular, but I’m sure you’ll also find that there’s no shortage of fascinating stuff within these pages, whether it be related to sport, drama or the CCF. Thanks must go to Rishi and the whole team for producing what is a fantastic edition; I hope you enjoy reading it as much as we did!

ADITYA DABRAL ASSISTANT EDITOR

Having been at Habs from the young age of seven, working on the final edition of Skylark before I leave, with prospects of journalism, as Assistant Editor, seemed fitting. A lot of the teachers leaving this year I remember from my very first day of Year 3, and even though I won’t be here to notice their absence, I would miss them regardless of whether or not they are leaving. As well as supervising various sections, I personally edited the Drama section of this issue. I have always been involved with Drama at the School, usually watching and appreciating the plays, or even sometimes being in them.

It is something I’ll miss greatly, along with the rest of the School! Enjoy Skylark 2017/18.

LEWIS FORMAN ASSISTANT EDITOR

WELCOME & CONTENTS

MEET THE TEAM

RISHI-NAYAN VARODARIA EDITOR

SOLOMON SPERBER DESIGN EDITOR

ABHIRAM BIBEKAR ASSISTANT EDITOR

ADITYA DABRAL ASSISTANT EDITOR

LEWIS FORMAN ASSISTANT EDITOR & DRAMA

ALEX MARSKELL TRIPS

HUBERT BIALEK CLUBS & SOCIETIES

LUCKSHMAN SIVATHASAN CLUBS & SOCIETIES

ARON ROSENTHAL FEATURES & EVENTS

OLIVER RUSSELL FEATURES & EVENTS

SENTHUR SHANMUGARASA FEATURES & EVENTS

RICHARD ZHONG DESIGN & TECHNOLOGY

SHAURYA KOTHARI LITERATURE

KARAN VADGAMA ART

THOMAS CHENG ART

TAMILORE AWOSILE MUSIC

ZECHARIAH MENGRANI SPORT

GUY DABBY-JOORY HOUSES

SAIFF HAMID CHARITY MATTERS

JOSH WARNER SCS, OL & CCF

VIRAJ SHAH COMMUNITY

RISHI SHAH PREP & PRE-PREP

SALMAN DHALLA PHOTOGRAPHER

ADITYA VENKATRAMAN PHOTOGRAPHER

DAISY O’HARE STAFF EDITOR

Skylark 2017/18 ~ 03

TRIPS

Trips are a key part of the school curriculum at Habs. With so many opportunities, anyone can find a trip they would like to go on! Always with an educational aim in mind, these trips are organised to broaden the horizons of students of all ages, whether it is living in a foreign country for a week or engaging in a sport they love. School trips offer a chance to make new friends and strengthen existing relationships, discover a new hobby or pursue a favourite one further, but most of all to have fun! Members of staff put lots of effort into making each trip an enjoyable experience for everyone and I would encourage any student to get involved at least once – perhaps you will have an unforgettable experience.

Editing the section this year has made me realise just how many different interests students have. The reports highlight the passion for the trips and exhibit the enthusiasm with which each boy took part in the experience. With a couple of new trips, the network is expanding, and I do hope to see many more in the next few years alongside equally passionate reports. If anything, my role in the Skylark team has made me regret not taking part in more activities during my time here!

ALEX MARSKELL, L6

IN THIS SECTION Senior Ski Trip to Alpe d’Huez 05 Year 8 Spanish Trip to Barcelona 06 Senior Cricket Tour to Sri Lanka 06 Classics Trip to Italy 07 Canoeing Trip on the River Wye 08 Places of Worship 09 04 ~ Skylark 2017/18

Senior Rugby Tour to Dublin 09 Year 9 Battlefields Trip 11 L6 MUN Trip to Paris 11 Golf Tour to Portugal 12 Habs Linguists - Going Places! 12 Exchange Trips 14

Year 10 Classics Trip to the British Museum L6 Geography Trip to Dorset Senior Cricket Tour to Devon L6 Chemistry Trip

16 17 18 20

TRIPS

SENIOR SKI TRIP TO ALPE D’HUEZ 36 boys accompanied Mr Lee (Trip Organiser), Mr Bartlett, Dr Hobbs and Mr Hardman (Trip Leader) to Alpe d’Huez for a fabulous week’s skiing, including Europe’s longest Black Run: La Sarenne.

We were treated to some of the best ski conditions of recent years with plenty of fresh snow falling throughout the week.

Our group stayed right in the centre of the resort at the SkiBound’s Vallée Blanche Club Hotel. The hotel staff, accommodation, food and facilities were absolutely superb – we will certainly use this hotel in future. The hotel staff were delighted with the good manners and general behaviour of our boys.

A number of awards were made on the final day:

We arrived home late Saturday night, tired, but happy.

• Ski King: Dylan Kaposi (U6S2);

Yet again, Mr Lee’s preparation and organisation for this trip was outstanding – he even managed to ensure that not a single visit was made to the Medical Centre! My sincere thanks to Mr Bartlett and Dr Hobbs for their enthusiastic support throughout the week and in the pre-trip boy/parent meetings.

•M an of the Tour (for his kindness to others, courtesy, and for helping to conduct and write the Ski Trip Quiz Night): Benjy Sandler (U6M2); •M ost Improved Beginner Skier: Nikhil Shah (L6R2); •M ost Improved Intermediate Skier: Viresh Kanakaratnam (L6R2); •M ost Improved Advanced Skier: Daniel Sandler (10M1).

We look forward to next year’s trip to Les Menuires, part of the world’s largest ski resort: Les Trois Vallées.

T HARDMAN

Skylark 2017/18 ~ 05

TRIPS

YEAR 8 SPANISH TRIP TO BARCELONA In Barcelona we had a great time. Having arrived there after our flight from Luton, we went to Maremagnum – the newlydeveloped port area in Barcelona. We saw our rooms in the hotel, ate dinner and went for a quick walk around Calella.

The next day we had a quick breakfast before setting off on the coaches to go to the Sagrada Familia – the unfinished church. In the afternoon, after visiting Gaudí’s Casa Batlló, we went to a chocolate factory and made our own chocolate designs. On Tuesday we all went to Port Aventura, a theme park, where I went on all sorts of cool rides.

The next day we walked down the Ramblas before heading over to the Poble Espanyol, an artisan’s area. Here we made our own stained glass windows.

On our final day we visited Camp Nou before heading out to the airport for our flight home. I had a great time on the trip and enjoyed it a lot.

ARI JOSEPH, Y8

SENIOR CRICKET TOUR TO SRI LANKA 17 of our top cricketers, accompanied

by Messrs Charlwood, Hewitt and Kerry (not to mention the contingent of travelling parents), spent the October half term experiencing the delights of Sri Lanka. The 12-day tour took in the cities of Kandy, Galle and Colombo, six matches (four at Test grounds) against local opposition (Sri Lankan schools’ cricket is arguably the strongest in the world), an internal practice game and several excursions, including visits to the elephants at Pinnawala and a turtle sanctuary.

As for the cricket, after a narrow defeat in the opening match of the tour against St Anthony’s College in Pallekele, at the new international stadium in Kandy, and the abandonment after torrential rain of the second game against Vidyartha College at Asgiriya (the old Test ground), we won three of the remaining four

06 ~ Skylark 2017/18

games, including a second successive victory against Richmond College (we also defeated them on the 2015 tour) at Galle. Only a strong St Peter’s College (Colombo) side outclassed us as most of the tour party became accustomed to the hot and humid conditions and put in some excellent performances with both bat and ball.

The highlight of the tour was undoubtedly the last ball victory against Southern Academy at the Sri Sumangala MCC Lord’s Ground near Hikkaduwa, one of two new grounds constructed after the 2004 tsunami which devastated the region. After restricting the opposition to 212 for 8 in 40 overs, a superb partnership between Vinosh Jegatheesan (L6R2) and Naresh Rasakulasuriar (U6S1) gave us hope, but Habs still required 14 runs off the last over. A single off the first ball followed by a run-out left us

needing 12 off four balls. Taif Choudhury (L6J1) then hit a ‘six’ and a ‘four’ before scampering a single off the penultimate delivery. With two runs still needed off the final delivery, new batsman Saihaj Singh (10J2) managed to get his bat on the ball and see it race away to the boundary, amid euphoric scenes!

Many thanks must go to Tour Organiser Mr Kerry for what can only be described as the trip of a lifetime.

S CHARLWOOD

TRIPS

CLASSICS TRIP TO ITALY During the Easter holiday, Dr Joyce arranged an excellent trip to Naples, Italy.

We were a group of 35 fabulous Year 7-10 boys and five patient teachers and we all had a fun and educational trip.

Each morning we were woken up by an ‘Err boys’ and a knock on the door from Dr Joyce at 7:00am, and we then had half an hour to prepare for breakfast which consisted of crunchy rolls and jam.

We then boarded a coach which would take us on a Classical adventure for the day. For lunch we were given the luxury and freedom to roam Italy in groups. If we so desired, we could have chosen to eat in proper, Italian restaurants or just to pick up a sandwich. Each time there were multiple opportunities to do either or both. Some went a touch too far, with a group of four hungry boys ordering eight pizzas between them, and on another day ordering two main courses each! There was some time to recover from each of our day trips before and after dinner, during periods of free time.

It was lovely to relax with our friends, both newfound and well-established. For dinner back at the hotel, we all enjoyed the daily gastronomic delights that the hotel waiters elegantly served us, as if they had been trained in one of the top silver service establishments. On most evenings after dinner, we went out to buy ice cream - but not any old ice cream, Italian ice cream, which is by far the best in the world.

One highlight of our trip was our visit to the ancient city of Pompeii in which we examined the remains of the house of Caecilius. This was a big moment for us, as nobody passes through the School without having learned about him at some point. He is one of the characters in our Latin books, and it was satisfying to see where the real person had lived, whether or not the stories about him are true.

When the great volcano Vesuvius erupted in 79AD, it spewed lava and ash over Pompeii and Herculaneum. We were able to see the grim sight of body plaster casts of some of those who had perished as a result of the eruption - a must for Horrible Histories fans!

At Pompeii we saw some food (lentils and bread) that had been preserved from when the volcano erupted nearly 2,000 years ago. We got to see some of the paintings which had been preserved that the Romans themselves had enjoyed viewing. We had a look into the dwellings and shops of the Roman people and saw how they would relax by going to the amphitheatre and the baths. All the boys will agree that they gained a real insight into the Roman life and culture of

centuries ago and that insight would be obtained by anyone who goes to Pompeii.

At Herculaneum, we saw some skeletons of people who had died as a result of a heat that was so extreme that it made some of the Romans’ skulls explode.

When Vesuvius erupted, hot temperatures as high as 500 degrees centigrade (five times the boiling point of water) smacked into the people in Herculaneum at the time. From the skeletons, one can see the positions in which these people must have lived their final moments.

On one of the days we travelled by hovercraft to the island of Capri. The views from the boat were sensational and the journey was very smooth, with few bumps and little side to side swaying. On the island, we were a little unfortunate with the weather, but this soon cleared up. We were taken by bus half way up the hill of Capri, then we all participated in a lovely, little stroll up to the ruins of Villa Jovis at the top of the hill, where the Emperor Tiberius used to like to stay. Here we observed magnificent views and we were taught many things by the truly learned Dr Joyce. After Villa Jovis, we relaxed in the sun in a courtyard for a few hours, before taking a boat back to Sorrento. This ride was even smoother than the first, and we arrived at the hotel in good time for an hour’s shopping at the local souvenir shops.

We climbed up Vesuvius one day.

Unfortunately, it was too cloudy to see much, but we did catch glimpses of

beautiful views into the crater of the majestic flame thrower. I am sure it would be stunning on a clear day and I would like to go again just to stare down into the crater without clouds.

On another day, we marvelled at the sight of the most preserved Greek temples in Europe at Paestum. At Naples Archaeological Museum, we discovered many things about the history of pottery and how the Ancient Greeks and Romans decorated their houses.

During the trip, we gained a huge amount of knowledge about the lifestyle of the people of Ancient Rome and Greece, which is immensely useful for our Latin lessons. I would strongly recommend and encourage anybody thinking of continuing Latin into Year 9 or above to go, but not just them. The trip is suitable for anyone who wants to have fun, to learn, to generally have a great time and to sample some proper, delicious Italian food. Thank you to Dr Joyce, Mrs Pfeffer, Mrs Vithlani, Mr Charlwood and Miss Tucker.

SOLOMON SUMMER, Y9 Skylark 2017/18 ~ 07

TRIPS

CANOEING TRIP ON THE RIVER WYE Wye canoe… …Because it is one of the most beautiful canoeing rivers in the world!

Seven boys grasped the opportunity to take part in our first canoe trip on the Wye in recent memory. Rising to the challenge, most of the boys had never canoed before and they took to it quickly. Arriving on a sunny Monday afternoon they got stuck into the ropework, lifting and carrying techniques, safety awareness and paddle

skills. After a night camping next to the Boat Inn at Whitney-on-Wye, they started their journey down the river on a multi-day expedition. Camping at Byecross Farm, they cooked on an open fire and survived a damp night to enjoy the rest of the trip in gorgeous sunshine.

Camping at Hereford Rowing Club gave the boys a chance to explore the town, enjoy fish and chips and stock up on supplies to continue the journey.

The last night of camping allowed the boys to enjoy another night by an open fire with some creative cooking. The final day was set with a finish deadline… get there on time and lunch would be cooked for them. Well done to the boys – they dug in with the paddles and powered down the river determined to make lunch from the get-go.

Again, why canoe? Summed up beautifully by Pierre Trudeau: ‘What sets a canoeing expedition apart is that it purifies you more rapidly and inescapably than any other. Travel a thousand miles by train and you are a brute; pedal five hundred on a bicycle and you remain basically a bourgeois; paddle a hundred in a canoe and you are already a child of nature.’ The boys had an appreciation for the wildlife and environment along the way and returned home having developed their teamwork, communications, self-sufficiency, cooking skills and a few paddle strokes along the way.

N WOODALL 08 ~ Skylark 2017/18

TRIPS

PLACES OF WORSHIP First, we registered at the Bourne Hall at 8:40am and waited there until 9:30am when we made our way to the coach.

After about a 10-minute drive, we reached Bhaktivedanta Manor Park and we were greeted by two ladies who were going to guide us for the time we were there. Firstly, we went to the Rose Garden created in memory of Bhaktivedanta Swami, on whom the whole manor was based because of his spiritual teachings in Hinduism.

Thereafter, we went to another octagonal garden in memory of George Harrison (the famous musician from The Beatles), who appreciated Bhaktivedanta’s spiritual guidance and donated the entire manor to the community. In the garden, there were flowers which Harrison would have liked – he was a talented gardener, for which he is not commonly known.

A few lyrics from his songs were put around the garden on benches or fences.

Subsequently, we went to the place where the oxen and cows are kept and are cared for. The Hare Krishna community treats them with great care; for example, they milk the cows with their own hands and not machinery, so as not to hurt the cows as much. Due the

shortage of time, we quickly rushed to the inside of the Mandir, making sure our shoes were taken off. We saw the shrine and it was explained who the deities were – Ram, Lakshman, Sita, Krishna, Hanuman etc.

Afterwards, we made our way to a hall where an ISKCON member gave a brief history and information of Bhaktivedanta’s life from India to the Western world, spreading the word of Hinduism by chanting in the streets of America and England. The lady showed us how the Hare Krishna chant would sound, by playing on a Mridamgan (an Indian drum) and sang the tune. To top this amazing visit off, the Hare Krishna community gave all of us a cookie each as we had to depart to St Paul’s Cathedral.

The journey was quite long with a bit of traffic but all of us were talking and keeping the coach lively. With an approximate one-and-a-half-hour drive, we reached St Paul’s Cathedral and near the steps we ate our packed lunches over a period of fifteen minutes. Then we entered St Paul’s Cathedral and our guide explained snippets of information about the Cathedral. We saw the large front door, the beautifully decorated

dome, heard the massive organ and saw the golden walls. One new fact I learned was that a cathedral is not named a cathedral due to its size, but whether it contains a cathedra (chair) in which the Bishop sits. So, you can have a very small cathedral if it contains a cathedra.

Following this, we climbed the narrow spiral staircase to the top of the dome.

Taking a few photos of the magnificent view, we carefully climbed back down.

Lastly, we set off on our way back to school at 3:00pm. We arrived there just in time for the 4:15pm coaches and I very much enjoyed the day and am grateful for the staff taking us and organising this spectacular trip.

YASH SHAH, Y8

SENIOR RUGBY TOUR TO DUBLIN It goes without saying that the decision to forsake the warm balm of the Biarritz sun for the low lying cloud of the Emerald Isle was not taken lightly by the tour management team. Yet, however hard we tried, we could not escape from the cold hard truth: the boys had grown too accustomed to the comforts of Biarritz and we needed a new experience, one that would challenge the boys in ways that could not be replicated on the sands of La Grande Plage.

And so it came to pass, that a five-day tour to Bray (15 miles south of Dublin) was the chosen destination for the Senior Rugby Tour of 2017. The selection of the seaside town of Bray was far from random. From pictures found on the internet, it looked sufficiently run down in the winter months to alleviate any thoughts of late-night rabble rousing in the local vicinity and the distance to Dublin was, at the very least, prohibitive to the planning of any such ventures further afield. This may sound particularly untrusting of such a fine group of boys, but the tourist must always meet the rising sun with an unyielding sense of optimism and enthusiasm.

Writing of tourists, the party was made up of 25 players, already battle-hardened from half a term of competitive rugby and a three-strong management team, equally experienced from past Habs rugby tours. Finally, The Royal Hotel was booked, having looked great in the glossy tour brochure and the coach/ferry option was chosen as the method of transport to save on costs.

As it transpired, only one of these final management decisions proved to be the right one…

A blind sense of panic passed over me as I looked at the weather forecast on the day prior to departure. 60-70mph winds across the Irish Sea in the form of storm Ophelia were scheduled for the Monday – our day of travel. A quick phone call to Stenalines confirmed my darkest fears – all ferries had already been cancelled.

Our tour would have to be delayed by 24 hours. It was to be the first of many contacts with Stenalines.

the Habs party arrived at Holyhead the following day, Ophelia had exhausted herself and the Irish Sea was a veritable mill pond.

After 16 hours on land and sea, the welcome at the Royal Hotel in Bray felt like the warmth of a mother’s bosom. We had made it.

An early night and a hearty Irish breakfast set us up for a busy second day on tour. A morning training session at the impressive University College, Dublin, followed by lunch on the campus,

Storm Ophelia wrought havoc to the coast of Ireland that day. Schools were closed, roads were blocked, and general pandemonium ensued. But by the time Skylark 2017/18 ~ 09

TRIPS

meant that we were raring to go for our first match against Dublin High School (DHS). Mr Malin, the point of contact for the School, had been particularly accommodating in changing the date of the fixture because of our travel problems. I did, however, fear that such bonhomie would not be extended onto the field of play. Irish schools’ rugby is globally renowned as being particularly fiercely contested, attracting huge crowds when the best schools play against each other in the Dublin league.

I was, however, heartily relieved to hear that DHS were in the third tier of this competition. I was even more relieved to see the vast majority of the school leaving through the school gates at 2:30pm as we arrived. This was not to be a cauldron of an atmosphere…

After a tightly contested first half, we eventually began to dominate the breakdown. The turnovers granted the backs some good ball and they capitalised with some clinical finishing against a tiring home team. Dylan Kaposi’s (U6S2) effort from 40 metres out was the pick of the tries in a 28-12 win. It was a good start to the tour.

Seeing Luckshman Sivathasan (L6H2) claim his man of the match tie while clutching a King Edward potato – a forfeit awarded by the tour fines committee for a lack of discipline – will be an enduring image of the after-match presentation. Potato blight has ravaged Ireland over the centuries, so I was relieved to get the lads safely back on board Bill’s luxury liner to Bray.

A quiet evening enjoying one of Juan’s (hotel manager) two-course meals was followed by a walk around Bray town centre to get our bearings. With the summer a distant memory, many of the amenities had been boarded up and we were back in the hotel within 15 minutes.

Thursday saw the intrepid tourists enjoy a day of team building. The first port of call was a climbing facility called ‘Awesome Walls’, located in an industrial estate on the outside of Dublin. One of the highest indoor climbing centres in Europe, it features vertical and overhanging walls and the boys were quick to immerse themselves into a world of karabiners and chalk dust. The team spirit within the group was obvious and a testament to the excellent work of the senior players in galvanising the boys into one cohesive unit before we left for Ireland.

10 ~ Skylark 2017/18

Away from the rigours of the climbing wall, it had come to my attention that the weather conditions had deteriorated and were due to get even worse as the weekend approached. Another storm was brewing out in the Atlantic and was due to hit the Irish Sea on the same day as our return ferry. Stenalines would not confirm the status of the ferry for Saturday morning until late on Friday, so we were left with something of a dilemma: do we roll with it and take the chance on the ferry running or do we take the boys home early to avoid another day of cancelled ferries?

A phone call to the School’s Bursar removed the dilemma – we were going to take our chance.

The Guinness Storehouse is one of the highlights of any tour to Dublin. The interior of the building is shaped like a giant pint of the black stuff, culminating in a fantastic rooftop bar with views across the city (the froth on the top of the metaphorical giant pint). Sadly for the boys, anyone under the age of 18 was forbidden to sample the delights of Ireland’s most famous export. A self-guided 90-minute tour, learning everything there is to know about hops and fermentation only to be met with a Sprite at the end of the rainbow – somewhat disappointing. That said, the contents and architecture of the museum were extremely impressive, and it really does justify its billing as one of the best museums of its type in Europe.

Back to the hotel for another of Juan’s two-course supper specials. With only one choice available, either vegetarian or meat, it didn’t take long for diners to choose from the menu and we were soon ready to depart the Royal for the delights of the Bray Bowl. Seldom does one visit a bowling alley where the entry price includes free use of the arcade games and pool tables, and the boys and staff made the most of these unexpected riches.

The following morning saw us enjoy an excellent tour of the Aviva Stadium in Dublin. Situated on the original Lansdowne Road, the spiritual home of Irish rugby, the site is the oldest international rugby venue in the world.

An emotive video, shown in the postmatch interview room, revealed the building process towards transporting the venue into the 21st century. In the presence of an extremely knowledgeable tour guide and with access to all areas of the stadium, the tour was a real treat and another highlight of the trip.

The three-hour coach trip to Kilkenny College for our second tour match soon brought us back down to Earth. Driving rain and low-lying cloud meant that this would not be a game for ‘champagne rugby’. Kicking for territory and picking and driving around the edges of rucks

was to be the order of the day. It was clear that Will Sammons (U6M2) had not listened to this directive when he delivered an exquisite offload out of the back of the hand for our second try of the match – what do we know?!

Kilkenny fielded a youthful team made up of U16 players and we shuffled our pack accordingly, giving game time to all tourists who were fit. The final score of 24-10 did not adequately reflect our dominance. The staff and pupils of Kilkenny College were keen to depart for an exeat weekend as soon as the match finished so we were soon back in the familiar clutches of Bill’s luxury liner: cold, wet and hungry.

Further phone calls to Stenalines confirmed that the return ferry would run as normal in the morning, despite 60mph winds across the Irish Sea; we would be in for an ‘interesting’ return voyage…

The final evening of the tour was an opportunity to reflect upon the various misdemeanours that had occurred during the week in the form of a ‘kangaroo court’. Such ceremonies do not always have a great reputation in wider social circles, but the Royal Court was disciplined and ordered throughout.

The judge, Michael Miller (U6M2), meted out punishments fairly and proportionally after some thorough work by the prosecuting barrister, Dylan Kaposi. The defence team, superbly led by Dhillon Selvarajah (L6M2) was suitably weak and ineffective. Great fun.

The fun stopped at the port early the next morning. The ferry crossing was quite simply revolting – with plates smashing all around us in the canteen area (think over-enthusiastic Greek wedding), the vessel lurched across the Irish Sea, leaving no one, and I mean no one, unaffected. Our green faces urged to see the green, green grass of home.

The boarding of Bill’s coach was met with a sense of genuine gratitude; we had survived an experience that would ne’er be forgotten by all who sailed in her that day.

Despite the travel arrangements, it had been an excellent tour. The boys had behaved impeccably throughout, and they were a credit to the School. Their judgement as to when to have fun and when to be serious was unerringly accurate and they were a pleasure to take on tour. My particular thanks must go to my colleagues, Mr McIntosh and Mr Lynch for giving up their time over half term and adding much to the value of the trip. I would also like to express my gratitude to the senior players for creating the culture within the group over many months that would ensure the success of our first-ever trip to Dublin.

A METCALFE

TRIPS

GOLF TOUR TO PORTUGAL

After months of anticipation, 19 boys set off for Portugal for the annual golf tour. They returned with valuable golfing experience and suntans.

A tough first day at the Millennium course in Vilamoura saw emotions and balls fly as boys and staff alike got used to the fast Algarve greens and narrow fairways. After battling with the woodlands of Pinhal on day two, the leaderboard seemed set in stone with Kiaan Patel (10S1) firmly at the top making fewer double bogies than anyone else throughout the week.

The camaraderie was high with group trips to the spa helping the boys bond.

Moving day at the Vale do Lobo Royal course saw Benjy Randall (9J1) and Joe Nissim (10H2) play some superb golf and put themselves in a position to breathe down the neck of Kiaan. Former tour champion Chinmay Mullapudi (10S1) was a constant source of entertainment and also played some outstanding golf. Some Champions League football at dinner on day three really set the tone for the competitive final day at the Vale do Lobo Ocean Course.

The final day saw nerves trembling, stomach cramps and putts missed with Mr Hails now firmly behind Mr Ward

YEAR 9 BATTLEFIELDS TRIP The October half term saw a group of Year 9 historians depart for the Western Front on an exciting history trip to learn about life in the trenches, including the front line, a century ago.

Having travelled to Poperinge, we were introduced to our tour guide, an expert on the First World War, to begin a fiveday immersion into what life was like for a soldier fighting on the Western Front.

We learned about the grim, mud-soaked monotony of life for the soldiers as we walked through actual trenches, which contrasted with a visit to the tranquil Talbot House, a place where soldiers who fought on the front line could go to escape the reality of fighting for a short while. The cells and shooting post at Poperinge – an historic military site where defectors, or those who contravened military orders, were executed by firing squads – brought us back to the harshness of military life. It was tragic to see the many names etched into the walls of the prison cells where they would have spent their final days. We also visited Lijssenthoek Military Cemetery – home to the grave of 2Lt Norman Greiffenhagen, an Old Haberdasher, and the Menin Gate, where we saw the huge stone archway inscribed with the names of over 54,000 men whose bodies were never found, and where we witnessed the famous Last Post ceremony.

We toured several cemeteries of both Allied and German troops. Visiting the grave of the youngest person to die on the front lines in the First World War (aged only 15), at Essex Farm Cemetery, was a sobering reminder that the men who fought in the war were often not much older than us. The Allied graves were arranged in orderly rows for individual soldiers, which was in stark contrast to

the mass graves in the cemeteries for the German troops, which we saw at Langemark Cemetery.

During the trip we visited a few types of places where troops had fought in Belgium and France – from the complex architecture of the walls around Ypres (built centuries before) to the network of trenches and tunnels at Sanctuary Wood, and the mine craters and concrete bunkers at Hill 60. Newfoundland Park demonstrated the immense challenge of crossing a battlefield, and our guide illustrated this by showing us the sheer volume of craters littered across the battlefield, and the miles and miles of tangled barbed wire that would make crossing it almost impossible.

We also made a touching visit to the Australian Imperial Force (AIF) Burial Ground in Flers, where one boy was able to pay tribute to a relative of his who died in 1916. He was able to read the ode of remembrance, and the boys were respectful throughout. A wreath was laid, and we were all able to connect with loss from the war on a personal level.

Visits to a number of museums brought extra depth to our understanding through detailed displays of military memorabilia, as well as the huge shells, realistic dug-outs, and even a recreation of the battlefield complete with barbed wire and craters. The combination of walking in the footsteps of the troops and the stories behind the displays meant that it was a thought-provoking and memorable trip.

Thanks must go to Dr Courtney, Mr Geering, Dr Gannarelli, Mrs O’Hare and our expert tour guide for making the trip so fascinating.

(Head of Mathematics) and Mr McIntosh (Director of Sport). Some browner-thanusual greens saw some great scores from the final group but it was Joseph ‘Gimme’ Gale (U6J1), School Golfing Captain, who surged through from the penultimate group and posted an impressive 44 points to snatch the trophy out of Kiaan’s hands (again) for a remarkable third title. It was an incredible trip with special thanks to Mr Ward who managed to secure the staff title for the trophy cabinet after a fouryear hiatus.

ZACK BRODTMAN, U6

L6 MUN TRIP TO PARIS In early December a group of 12 L6 students travelled to France for the Paris Model United Nations Conference. The boys attended a conference at the Maison de la Mutualité, an outstanding conference centre. During the evenings we explored the streets of the French capital, with Mr Simm acting as a tour guide. Habs Boys represented the delegations of China and Saint Kitts and Nevis, debating on topics ranging from South Sudan to the reform of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

They performed skilfully across the board, but commendations should go to Aditya Venkatraman (L6C2), Jonathan Obstfeld (L6S1), Alex Curtis (L6J2), Thomas Sherlock (L6C2), Guy DabbyJoory (L6H2) and Dan Gilbey (L6S1), who were recognised for dominating their committees.

Half of all the boys who attended the conference were recognised in the General Assembly for their efforts, upholding the strong reputation of Habs at Paris.

Thanks must also go to Mr Simm, Ms McGrath, and Ms Tucker for not only organising the trip, but for being great company throughout the visit.

ADITYA VENKATRAMAN, L6

SAMUEL NEWMAN, Y9 Skylark 2017/18 ~ 11

TRIPS

HABS LINGUISTS – GOING PLACES! Did you know that we have more reciprocal language exchanges at Habs than any other school in the country?

Or that more than 200 Habs boys took part in one of our languages trips or exchanges last year?

UK

Here is a brief visual guide to where they went – and what they thought of it.

Bon voyage! Gute Reise! Buen viaje!

EN FRANCE nge Paris - Year 9 excha lma Collège privé de l’A ar 11 exchange Aix-en-Provence - Ye Lycée Paul Cézane

La France

exchange Chambéry - Year 8 de Sales is nço Collége St Fra

C’ÉTAIT COOL DE VOIR PARIS ET LA FAMILLE DE MON CORRES ÉTAIT TRÈS SYMPA!

SALAMANCA ES UN LUGAR MUY HISTÓRICO Y PRECIOSO Y LAS FAMILIAS NOS ACOGIERON MUY BIEN. ¡FUE UNA EXPERIENCIA ESTUPENDA!

MARSEILLE ÉTAIT FORMIDABLE – IL Y AVAIT BEAUCOUP À VOIR ET IL A FAIT TRÈS BEAU!

España España

À GRENOBLE, NOUS AVONS ADMIRÉ LA VUE SUR LES ALPES

¡NOS LO PASAMOS GENIAL! ¡BARCELONA TE QUEREMOS!

EN ESPAÑA Barcelona - Year 8 cultural trip Collège privé de l’Alma Seville - Year 10 exchange el Colegio Sagrada Familia de Urg y visit Salamanca - Sixth Form stud

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TRIPS

MEIN BESUCH IN MÜNCHEN WAR WUNDERBAR. ES HAT VIEL SPASS GEMACHT UND HOFFENTLICH FAHRE ICH WIEDER DAHIN!

Deutschland

IN DEUTSCHLAND Offenburg - Year 8 exchange Schiller Gymnasium Münich - Year 10 exchange Gisela Munich Düsseldorf - L6 work experie nce Matare Gymnasium

WIR HATTEN SO VIEL SPASS IM SCHWARZWALD!

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TRIPS

EXCHANGE TRIPS Year 9 French Exchange to Paris An early morning saw the Alma French Exchange start groggily. After assembling at St Pancras station, a group of 16 sleepy boys, accompanied

by Miss Drake and Mr Lennon, boarded the Eurostar direct to Paris. After a brief stop at Alma, the group visited the Stade de France – the home of French football.

After a tour of the unseen areas we met our exchange partners and spent the evening with them. Over the weekend, we got to know our host families and met up to play football together, among other activities. Monday was an action-packed day, with a tour around the famous Louvre to see a range of paintings and sculptures including the Mona Lisa. The afternoon was equally fast-paced, with a visit to the ChampsÉlysées followed by a trip to the top of the Arc de Triomphe, with panoramic views over Paris. The next day, the group travelled to Opéra, where we watched

an informative film on the history of Paris. This was followed by a trip to the shopping centre Galeries Lafayette where we had lunch on the roof terrace.

In the afternoon we went on the Bateaux Mouches down the Seine which provided a unique view of the major sights in the city. The next day the group visited Montmartre, an area populated by artists and centred around a grand church, the Sacré-Cœur. The afternoon was spent with our exchanges. On Thursday, we visited Versailles and the grand gates and intricate design impressed everyone, as did the beautiful gardens surrounding the house. Friday was our last day in Paris, and the morning was taken up by a tour around the Notre Dame, with its two iconic towers and deafening bells. A trip on the métro to the Gare du Nord signalled the end of the trip. A short journey on the Eurostar back to St Pancras left us reflecting on many happy

memories and inspired us to persevere with our French, as well as leaving us anticipating the return of our exchanges later in the year.

JONNY SAWDAY, Y9

Years 9 and 10 German Exchange to Munich The first week of the Easter holidays saw yet another successful exchange visit to the Gisela Gymnasium, a school in the German city of Munich. It was an incredible experience for all those who took part and a great opportunity for the Years 9 and 10 students studying German to get a real feel for the culture and the language.

After a short journey to Munich, we met our exchange partners for the first time. We were welcomed at the airport with warm smiles and friendly faces.

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What lay ahead was a week filled with entertaining trips and excursions that would provide a wonderful sample of German architecture, culture and life in general, featuring most notably tours of Regensburg and Salzburg, as well as Munich. One of the highlights of the trips was the tour of the Allianz Arena, where a lot of boys couldn’t resist buying a souvenir from the gift shop.

understand the German language – a vital skill with GCSEs on the horizon.

Many boys had new experiences, including skateboarding, snowboarding and even riding a unicycle!

However, it was staying with a local family which was particularly helpful, as all involved left with a greater ability to

MAX METCALFE, Y11 AND EAMONN BRODERICK, Y10

The Munich exchange was a fantastic experience for all those involved and highly recommended for anyone studying German.

TRIPS

Year 11 French Exchange to Aix-en-Provence We arrived in Aix-en-Provence. Nerves were high. We hadn’t met our exchanges before and we did not know how our week would turn out. Even more, none of us knew how to greet them with the French kiss on the cheeks. After practising with the air many times, we were ready for the real deal. Let’s just say, we may have needed more practice.

Meeting our exchanges for the first time was very awkward. The French I had previously learned went out of the window as soon as I said bonjour, and the few words I remember saying when they asked questions – oui, non and ça ne me dérange pas (I don’t mind) – largely got me through the first encounter. My exchange and her parents were very helpful, in that they understood how hard it is to speak in a foreign language continuously for a

long period of time, and they gave me the time to phrase what I wanted to say.

Gradually, my fluency and confidence in speaking French grew and during the week I found my conversations with my exchange and her family were easier; I had no problem for the rest of the week.

The trips to Marseille, Arles and the tour of Aix were particularly interesting and most certainly an enjoyable experience.

Weekend trips with my exchange to Aix and a trip to the seaside town of Cassis and the Calanques were definitely memorable. I thoroughly recommend going on this exchange because not only do you have an unforgettable experience, but you also develop your linguistic skills immensely, which will help you in the near and far future.

ROHAN GANDHI, Y11

Sixth Form Spanish Exchange to Salamanca In the October half term eight boys in the Sixth Form participated in a study trip to the Spanish university town of Salamanca. While there, the boys enjoyed learning about Spanish culture, history and language, as well as visiting the beautiful town of Salamanca itself, thanks to the long and fascinating history it possesses.

On top of this, the boys took part in excursions elsewhere, such as to the Roman town of Segovia, with its historic aqueduct and alcázar, and Madrid, getting to see the infamous Picasso painting Guernica. All in all, it was a fantastic week, with a great mix of learning, exploration and cultural immersion.

ANGUS CLELLAND, L6

Year 10 Spanish Exchange to Seville Spanish is one of the most spoken and understood languages on Earth; with the language having more native speakers than English, it is clear the footprint that the once unrelenting Spanish Empire left on the globe is still very noticeable today.

Therefore, it was only natural that in the last week of the Easter Holiday the Year 10 Spanish exchange this year took place in the city where it all started: Seville.

Despite being branded as a language exchange, the trip totalled so much more

than a week of simply practising Spanish.

Our group of 15 boys was immersed in the culture of Southern Iberia – a mix of both North African and Western European traditions combining in Seville to create the foundations of much of the traditional Spanish culture of today.

We engaged ourselves in everything from flamenco dancing, spending a day in school, discovering Christopher Columbus’ tomb, to wandering a centuries-old Moorish castle; exploring a

city with a symbolic importance most others couldn’t hold a candle to. To top that, we were staying with Andalusian families who would ensure we would leave having lived a week of our lives as true Spaniards: speaking, eating and living as natives. Not only did we return more fluent in the language, but with an experience most language learners only dream of. A simple thank you does not even begin to show the gratitude owed to Miss von Truchsess and Mr Rylands for planning and leading such a fascinating and unforgettable trip.

AHAN THAKUR, Y10

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TRIPS

YEAR 10 CLASSICS TRIP TO THE BRITISH MUSEUM We began the day by gathering in the coach park after registration, where Dr St John was dressed as sharply as ever.

We set off for the British Museum and arrived at about 10:30am, where we met up with the Classicists from the Girls’ School. We were then put into mixed groups to carry out various tasks and look at objects in the museum.

We traversed the staircase and were met by a vast bronze head with glowering stone eyes. It was that of the first Roman Emperor Augustus, held high in a glass cage with remnants of his legacy beside him. The more we explored, the more we found out about the influential figure: he wished to create a new society; one based on morality, values, and classical Greek culture. Perhaps he viewed his seizure of power as necessary to establish such a society or simply felt entitled to his share of power.

Nonetheless, we continued through the museum into the rooms devoted to classical Greece. Their society was both crudely patriarchal and remarkably advanced for their time. The wealthy Greek home, for example, had an andron – a room for the males of the household to relax and recline, with women only present to entertain the

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men. Yet in contrast people today can marvel at Greek architecture and the rich mythology that its culture held.

The Greeks also turned their attention to earthly matters: playing board games, boxing, wrestling and engaging in several festivals. In Ancient Greece, Athens played host to the Panathenaic Festival, a religious festival of both competitions and sacrifices. After we had explored the rooms thoroughly, we went downstairs to have lunch.

After this, we explored the ground floor further, looking into Egyptian, Greek, and Assyrian civilisations. We found a huge Assyrian statue of a winged human-headed lion. It towered over the visitors at the museum and yet it had been built millennia ago, in about 860BC. It was stated to be a protective spirit, and it gazed upon the halls of the museum. I turned to my left and found an even larger bust, smiling in stone, from Western Thebes. It was a bust of the Egyptian King Amenhotep III, built around 1375BC. It seemed that going further back in time yielded no less impressive works. However, the most striking work of all was a huge monument, adorned with columns and statues, resembling a Greek temple.

The Nereid Monument was, however, a tomb, dedicated to a great Lycian noble. It was built around 385BC, and was named after the figures of Nereids, nymph daughters of the sea god Nereus.

However, its resemblance to a Greek temple is very significant; it reflects how Greek and Persian cultures influenced the Lycians, and how their architecture influenced Lycian tombs, which had been raised on high podiums in the first place.

The Nereid Monument is a stunning example not only of the greatness of ancient architecture, but of the close relations of ancient cultures.

It was a warm day outside, and as we took our leave, the warmth of the sun compelled us to visit the ice cream stand. We couldn’t wait forever though, and eventually we had to make the walk back to our coach. Many thanks to the teachers who took us on this trip – Ms Simons, Mrs Brock and Dr StJohn.

DANIEL LEVY, Y10

TRIPS

L6 GEOGRAPHY TRIP TO DORSET On 24 March 2018, 21 AS Level Geographers from the L6 travelled down to the South Coast for a three-day fieldwork trip. During the day, the boys got hands-on experience with numerous fieldwork practices and techniques, using both simple and complicated procedures to collect data, and utilising new equipment, such as pH meters and anemometers. In the evenings, the group wrote up and analysed their data in teacher-led lessons.

The boys were fortunate enough to stay at Leeson House, a manor house catering specifically for geographic field study, which provided not only comfortable accommodation and food for the duration of the trip, but also included classroom facilities and a recreational activity room, allowing the group to rest up and relax in the downtime following the excursions of the day.

sense of the impacts of geography in a practical and real-world scenario, getting the boys to apply their knowledge in an out-of-classroom scenario.

With excursions to Weymouth, Chesil Beach, Lulworth Cove, Studland, Swanage and Hengistbury Head, the boys certainly had a busy, yet greatly rewarding trip, helping them to garner both key supplementary knowledge about coasts and the methods of conducting an investigation, as well as developing a

ALEX JONES, L6

Many thanks to Mr Cooper, Mr Taberner, Mr Baird, and Mrs Edwards for accompanying, teaching and imparting valuable knowledge to the boys throughout the trip.

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TRIPS

SENIOR CRICKET TOUR TO DEVON Devon Tours always provide a tough challenge with four games on consecutive days, but they are also hugely enjoyable and a fitting reward for our top cricketers at the end of a busy term. The 2017 tour proved to be no exception. Founder’s Evening on the Monday meant that the squad had to travel separately in two groups with the U6 players coming down by train the next morning. However, this resulted in additional space for kit bags in the minibus and a comfortable journey in under three and a half hours to our ‘luxury’ accommodation in Lyme Regis in good time for dinner, an evening stroll into town and along the beachfront, indoor games (pool, table-tennis etc.), a late-night horror film (cert 15!) and bed.

The opening fixture of the tour took place at Exeter School and after collecting the five U6 boys from the station, we had plenty of time to relax and prepare for the game. Batting first after losing the toss, and despite the early dismissal of Amaan Lakhani (U6R1), Habs were soon on top as Freddie Wright (U6R2) (83) and captain Jordan Urban (OH 2017) (55) added 119 runs for the second wicket at almost six an over before the latter was caught shortly after the drinks break with the score on 132. Freddie, after a nervous start during which he played and missed on several occasions, unfurled a series of fine shots to reach his highest score for

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the 1st XI and appeared to be on his way to a maiden century at this level when he became the fifth man to be dismissed with 200 on the board. Wickets continued to fall at regular intervals thereafter as the run rate slowed and it was left to Vinosh Jegatheesan (L6R2) (37*) to ensure that we posted a competitive total. Our final wicket fell to the first ball of the 40th over by which time, however, we had reached a healthy 246. In the event this total proved far too much for our hosts, who were missing a number of their regular players, and, with Freddie and Nikhil Chavda (U6S1) both picking up three wickets, Exeter School were dismissed for 105 in the 29th over, 141 runs adrift.

An opportunity for Messrs Charlwood and Kerry to thank the U6, the second half of the film and the latest episode of Love Island provided the evening entertainment.

The following day we played Exeter CC at the County Ground in Exeter, wishing once again that we could build a new pavilion similar to theirs back at Elstree!

On another hot afternoon the home side, including several overseas players from Australia and South Africa, unsurprisingly opted to bat first but were kept in check

by a fine opening salvo from Naresh Rasakulasuriar (U6S1), well supported at the other end by George Lawrence (OH 2017). Indeed, when the latter held on to sharp chance low down at first slip off Naresh’s bowling, we were on top. Unfortunately, the batsman queried whether the ‘catch’ had carried and as both umpires were unsighted the wicket was not given. It was not until the tea interval that the ‘truth’ emerged, thanks to some stunning camera work from the watching Lawrence Sr! Meanwhile the strong Exeter CC XI began to pile on the pressure and the run rate gradually increased. However, the Habs bowlers and fielders stuck well to their tasks and took their chances when they came.

TRIPS

Naresh returned for a second spell and claimed a superb hat-trick, eventually finishing with figures of five for 14 from his eight overs, as Exeter CC were restricted to 202 for nine from their full allocation of 40 overs. In reply, Freddie (35) and his brother Ben (OH 2017) (11) started in positive fashion, putting on 48 together before the fall of the first wicket in the ninth over. Thereafter, Jordan (10) and Saul Kaye (OH 2017) (25) struggled against tight bowling and both were guilty of giving their wickets away as our all-too-familiar batting frailties emerged once again. Naresh (28), Sudeep Khadka (OH 2017) (11) and Taif Choudhury (L6J1) (17) tried hard to get us back on track, but the task proved beyond us and we were dismissed for a disappointing 185, 18 runs short of our target... another game lost when we should have won!

Our batting was even worse at Exmouth against a Devon Dumplings XI, including a strong South African element, with only Jordan (56) demonstrating the necessary application. 57 for two in the 13th over quickly became 73 for four two overs later and then, with the score on exactly 100, we managed to lose four more wickets for the addition of no runs at all! Our final total of 129 all out was particularly embarrassing in the circumstances and proved, as expected, impossible to defend. There was a wicket apiece for our three spinners Taif, Amaan and Saavan Shah (U6S1) and also one for seamer Jack Ronayne (U6C2), but the opposition reached their target comfortably with six wickets and 14 overs to spare. Fortunately, the rest of the day was somewhat more enjoyable as the tour party and the supporting parents were entertained by the Yeabsleys at their home in Branscombe.

The final match of the tour (and season) against Devon U16 took place as usual at Cloakham Lawn, the home of Axminster CC, and we found ourselves bowling first after captain Jordan called incorrectly for the third time in four games. At the first drinks break after 17 overs the score was 73 for two, but the county side increased the tempo and were rattling along at five runs an over when the third wicket fell in the 26th over with the score on 125. At this point, excellent spells from the spinners Saavan and Amaan, backed up by good fielding, helped to put a break on the scoring before the seamers George, Naresh and Freddie, the latter pair with three wickets each, returned to dismiss the opposition for 229 after the first ball of the 50th over.

In reply our openers Amaan and Freddie went cheaply, but a superb partnership between Jordan (106*) and stand-in wicket-keeper Saul (53) took the score from 41 for two to 181 for three in just 25 overs and effectively won the game.

Jordan went on to complete a welldeserved century, his second in just over a week, and fittingly was still there at the end when Vinosh (11*) struck the winning boundary to secure a fine six wicket victory with five overs to spare in what was probably the performance of the season. It was also the 100th win for the Cricket Club as a whole this term. Certainly, the journey home was more enjoyable than the previous two years, even if the singing sounded more like strangling a cat!

Many thanks of course must go to Josee Beeson and her husband Paul for allowing us to stay at their ‘hotel’ in Lyme Regis and for ensuring that the food available was more than up to the usual standard. Doug and Jackie Yeabsley will always remain a part of the Devon ‘experience’, but Josee’s hospitality means that the tour will continue to feature on our fixture list for the foreseeable future. Thank you also to all the parents who supported us on tour and indeed throughout the season.

Your presence at the various grounds is always much appreciated. Finally thank you to all members of the 1st XI, particularly the departing U6, for all you have done for the Cricket Club. Results may not have gone our way at times this year, but overall you have exceeded our expectations and watching you play has always been enjoyable.

S CHARLWOOD

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TRIPS

L6 CHEMISTRY TRIP On 21 February 2018, 13 L6 Chemistry students, accompanied by Dr A Chapman and Dr Hobbs, visited the Johnson Matthey Technology Centre in Reading. As a leader in chemical technology and a member of the FTSE 100, Johnson Matthey is an extremely large organisation providing invaluable research into areas such as fuel cells and solar panels, focussing on sustainability and efficiency. The trip gave an excellent opportunity to experience work in an industrial lab and company focussed on innovation.

simplistic) solar panels. Arguably the most thoughtprovoking moment on the trip was discussing the future of cars, such as the already-developed cars that use hydrogen as fuel, and the very real possibility of cars powered by water in the near future.

The visit started with a tour around the main research labs at the site, featuring talks about ongoing research from some of the scientists, and highlighting areas such as fuel cells, catalysts, nanoparticles and solar cells. The tour was followed by practical experiments in the afternoon, which proved particularly entertaining.

The entire trip was highly interesting, but there were certainly highlights, including using a ÂŁ100,000 scanning electron microscope, and making our own (fairly

Thanks must go to Dr Chapman and Dr Hobbs, who organised the trip, and to those at Johnson Matthey for allowing us to visit their centre and providing us with one of the highlights of Sixth Form Chemistry so far this year.

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MATT COPLEY, L6

CLUBS & SOCIETIES

The wonderful thing about being a pupil at Habs is the ability to involve oneself in the vast array of clubs and societies available. Ranging from more academic societies, which are mainly targeted at the senior boys and include such things as the Economics and Medical Societies and usually consist of lectures and presentations from a mixture of boys and external speakers, to more active ones such as MUN and Debating, which provide the boys a space to develop their own interests. The fact that there are so many clubs to choose from enables the boys to ‘pick and mix’ and throughout their year at Habs deepen their interest in a small group of clubs.

HUBERT BIALEK, L6 AND LUCKSHMAN SIVATHASAN, L6

IN THIS SECTION PlebSoc Hindu Assembly Medical Society Debating Science Society

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School Council Dentistry Society Economics Society Economics Book Club Mathematics Society

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Board Games Club Doctor Who Club Modern Foreign Languages Society Investor Society

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PLEBSOC (CLASSICS SOCIETY) The rebranded Classics Society – PlebSoc – has continued to go from strength to strength over the last year, with the U6 organising the annual debate, various speakers and more. Attendance has greatly increased and talks by both students and teachers have seen engaged and intrigued audiences. Extracts of what was written after several of the events are below: On 14 July 2017, Dr John Taylor, former Head of Classics at Tonbridge School, now Lecturer at Manchester University and author of many Latin and Greek textbooks, visited Habs and spoke to boys and girls from our sister school on the importance and relevance of studying Latin.

A packed Old Refectory listened as Dr Taylor gave a potted history of the Latin language – the world’s most dominant language for many centuries – and explained its connections to English and so many other languages, as well as the pleasures (and pains) of studying it.

His encyclopaedic knowledge impressed the boys and girls, several of whom queued up afterwards to ask Dr Taylor to sign copies of his much-used Latin and Greek textbooks.

and Girls’ Schools gathered in the Old Refectory, eager to hear what would be said. With Jamie Slagel (U6J2), Henry Colbert (U6M1) and Joshua Gottlieb (U6R2) pushing for Greece; and RishiNayan Varodaria, Purusotha Thambiayah (U6H1) and Viraj Shah (L6M2) representing Rome, the debate began. There were fantastic arguments from both sides, encompassing infrastructure, military dominance, philosophy and religion, but ultimately the Greeks were crowned the winners! Attendance far exceeded expectations and this brilliant event has certainly earned its place as a permanent annual fixture in the school calendar!

With talks ranging from ‘How the Classical World Has Influenced Us Today’ to ‘Classical Greek Basics’; from ‘Greek Inscriptions’ and ‘The Phaedra Myth’ to ‘Rome: Fact or Fiction’ and ‘Maths in the Ancient World’, attendees have left stunned and eager to find out more every time. With more speakers, a Classics Conference and the annual Debate in the pipeline, the future looks fantastically bright for PlebSoc!

RISHI-NAYAN VARODARIA, U6

‘John Taylor is a legend in the Classics world,’ said Ms Simons, Head of Classics. ‘If anyone could be said to have maintained the teaching of Classical subjects in the UK for the past 20 years, it is him.

Thanks must go to Dr Taylor for coming to the School and to Rishi-Nayan Varodaria (U6M2) for inviting him.’

On 15 November 2017, six of the Boys’ School Sixth Form Classicists drew up their battle-lines to prepare to fight for the highly coveted R C Whiteman Cup at the Greece v Rome Debate 2017. Hordes of students and staff from both the Boys’

22 ~ Skylark 2017/18

This year the Hindu Assembly Committee has strived to produce informative assemblies to educate Hindus and non-Hindus alike about a variety of topics, from ‘Why Do We…?’, an assembly intended to inform the audience about the meaning and the purpose behind Hindu rituals, to assemblies on more philosophical topics such as the nature of the ego and the message of the Upanishads – a key philosophical Hindu text.

The committee is composed of 10 members working on a rota to produce weekly assemblies presented to an audience in the Aske Hall.

An example of a particularly thoughtprovoking assembly was one organised by Ms Pindoria, where she spoke on the nature of the ego and how it is mentioned within one of the most important Hindu texts, the Bhagavad Gita. This assembly was a prime example of how we intended to produce assemblies this year not only to inform the audience about the specifics of the topic but also to provide guidance that can be followed by members of any faith to help in their daily lives. In this particular assembly, the message centred on recognising one’s ego and aiming to separate one’s self from the ego as a means of self-realisation. In general the committee aimed to provide assemblies based around Hinduism but accessible to those of all beliefs.

AKHILESH KASIBHATLA, L6

MEDICAL SOCIETY Habs MedSoc is an excellent society through which prospective medics convene, watch captivating presentations and get crucial advice from those in the upper years. The key aim is for there to be an open forum of discussion for all the medics as it is a tough but rewarding career.

This society allows all L6 prospective medics and those in the years below to attend consistently interesting talks and get essential information from the U6, who are currently on the incredibly tough journey that is applying to read Medicine at university. In my opinion, the most motivating and thought-

HINDU ASSEMBLY

provoking talk was where Ashvin Kuri (OH 2017) and Sohum Patel (OH 2017) who are currently first year medical students at Queen Mary University of London and Downing College, Cambridge respectively, reflected on their first few months of university.

This was the first time all the medics in L6 really understood the process of applying and its difficulties. Talks like this have been a strong influence on where we will apply to medical school and have made us more aware of the difficulties we are beginning to face.

KIRSHUN SUVENDIRAN, L6

DEBATING In Debating this year, we have spent numerous weeks developing our rhetoric so that our point progression is conveyed in full detail and clearly, in order to secure top appreciation from judges.

Unfortunately, the teams were unable to participate in the competition at LSE, however we used the experience so that in future competitions (i.e. Oxford, Cambridge, Durham etc.) we will be more than ready. This term, we have focussed on topics such as Liberalism (in Inter-House Debating), Art versus Artist and The Usage of Placebos, where the boys have tackled multiple approaches to formulating arguments such as the harm principle.

BAYLEY GRAINGE, L6

CLUBS & SOCIETIES

SCIENCE SOCIETY This year, with the invaluable support and advice of Dr A Chapman, Science Society has continued to play a very active role in the co-curricular life at Habs, providing scientific enrichment to all pupils, from the Junior School to those looking to study Science at university and beyond.

We opened the year with a series of presentations from members of the committee on the biological action and medicinal uses of recreational drugs, giving us an insight into how their controlled use could combat mental disorders. In our next event, we hosted Dr Seth Zenz, a leading researcher working on the Compact Muon Solenoid (CMS) experiment at CERN, who explained the history of the ongoing experiment, the massive collaboration behind it and some of the theory behind the detection of particles. The Science Society Quiz (somewhat of a tradition) proved very popular this year with an incredible turnout of 16 teams of six members each from both the Boys’ and Girls’ Schools, packing the Aske Hall. The teams worked together to solve very

challenging science-related problems across the three disciplines and was a great success thanks to the very enthusiastic participants. For our keynote event, we invited Dr Matt Pritchard, who gave an excellent presentation on the overlap between science and magic in terms of both methodology and mindset. His talk was filled with some exciting practical demonstrations, including applying a voltage to his arm to demonstrate how you can exercise and build muscle without going to the gym! We are also particularly looking forward to an upcoming visit from Professor Lord Robert Winston, which should prove to be an extremely popular event. We would like to express our gratitude to Dr Chapman who supported the committee and helped in all aspects of the planning and execution of events and we hope that next year’s committee will have an equally successful year and will continue to inspire scientists throughout the School!

SAMEER AIYAR-MAJEED, L6

SCHOOL COUNCIL This year, the School Council has played a significant role in shaping the school community, both through actions within and external to the School. Changes and improvements have occurred ranging from introducing transparency of nutritional information in Joe’s Café, making the School more environmentally friendly (with the certification of the Eco-School Bronze Award serving as a testament to that), reviewing the academic standing of the PE Department and fitness programmes, starting a schoolwide initiative in aid of Borehamwood Foodbank, raising awareness for those dealing with and responding to mental health issues, reviewing and updating the academic support timetables around the School and responding to student feedback about the Bates lunch experience.

One of the biggest impacts that the School Council has had this year that is worth highlighting is regarding the schoolwide collection initiative in aid of Borehamwood Foodbank. Owing to great generosity by

boys and staff alike, over 200 kilograms of food and sanitary products were collected.

These went to those less fortunate than ourselves around the time of the Christmas break, and we received much gratitude from the Foodbank organisers themselves for all of our contributions. Pictured are four members of the team, standing alongside some of the donations that boys and staff had so generously brought in.

The value of the School Council comes from the students that it represents, and in this, we are able to further the interests of pupils of all ages. With representatives from all Houses and age groups, we look to make the school community a better place for all stakeholders through plenary meetings every half term and increased transparency with weekly emails on our activities sent to all boys and staff. We hope to continue with our progress over the coming weeks, before eventually handing the reigns over to next year’s Directors.

ISHAN GANDHI, L6

DENTISTRY SOCIETY Dentistry Society offers inspirational and enlightening talks on current topics in the world of dentistry. The presentations are engaging and there are always great discussions and intriguing questions which further feed our interest for the subject.

Furthermore, Dentistry Society provides aspiring dentists in the School with the

relevant information needed for university applications and job applications in the future. Frequently, special guests, who are experienced in the field, make appearances at our weekly meetings and present on interesting and fascinating topics.

ECONOMICS SOCIETY Economics Society, run by Sixth Form boys studying Economics, provides a unique opportunity for boys to involve themselves within the discipline outside the boundaries of the A Level syllabus, as well as to develop interest throughout the lower years of the School. This is done via student-led discussions and talks by external speakers, as well as debates about applications in the outside world and recommendations for wider reading. Recently, Economics Society welcomed Professor Ian Marsh from the Cass Business School to deliver a highly anticipated talk on foreign exchange rate trading. The diverse audience of Year 11-13 boys was joined by some guests from from the Girls’ School. This followed a student-led talk on one committee member’s vision of an economic utopia, illustrated through ideal levels of employment, inflation and interest rates. Over the upcoming year, we await many exciting new talks, as well as the annual Economics Day in July, hoping to inspire the next generation of young economists here at Habs.

ISHAN GANDHI, L6

ECONOMICS BOOK CLUB Economics Book Club is an initiative run by several L6 boys. As the name suggests, it is a club in which the focus is on books with an economic basis. It brings me great joy, however, to tell you that this society is indeed far more than just a plain old book club. Every term, we are faced with the daunting task of reading another hefty, but always enjoyable, book. Currently, we are looking at a book about behavioural economics, Misbehaving, that won its author Richard Thaler the Nobel Prize in Economic Sciences in 2017. In each weekly meeting, we aim to cover a section of the book and engage in thorough debate on the ideas presented. One may say this club is a toned-down Debating Club fuelled by biscuits and lemonade – a staple of every Book Club gathering. The aim of this society is to introduce the Sixth Form economists to the idea of wider reading and to feed the growing interests of those Year 11 boys who can’t wait to get stuck into the world of economics.

HUBERT BIALEK, L6

DANIEL NIKZAMIR, L6 Skylark 2017/18 ~ 23

CLUBS & SOCIETIES

BOARD GAMES CLUB Board Games Club was a club where I could go at lunchtime to play with one of my other friends. The main thing that I liked about this club was that I was able to meet new people from different years, ranging up to the Sixth Form.

This helped a lot with settling in. At first when I joined Habs I thought that I wouldn’t be able to make any friends.

But after I went to this club, I made lots

of new friends from different Houses.

Going to this club even for only a week or two at the start of the year can help you a lot. I truly feel that Board Games Club is a nice and easy step into Habs; it was also fun. I really recommend to all Year 7s to go to this club.

VARUN SATHESHKUMAR, Y7

DOCTOR WHO CLUB Doctor Who Club is a fun and friendly society open to all students from Year 7 through to U6, and even staff! We meet every Friday lunchtime in the English block and take part in a variety of activities. Normally, we watch an old episode from past series of Doctor Who. It might be one of the first-ever episodes, or a recent one, with classic monsters such as the Daleks and many more. We also play Doctor Who themed games and quizzes; one week we even did

Doctor Who charades, where we had to guess Doctors, monsters, episodes and spin-offs from the programme. We also discuss all things Doctor Who, such as who the best Doctor or companion is and why, or about the new 13th Doctor and the new logo. At the end of every Friday lunch, each attendee receives a small treat for coming along.

NIKHIL-MANAV VARODARIA, Y11

MODERN FOREIGN LANGUAGES SOCIETY This year a new Modern Foreign Languages (MFL) Society committee was selected, and immediately continued from where last year’s committee left off, taking on responsibilities such as tutoring, in which members of the committee are assigned a younger boy to tutor once a week, and it cannot be doubted that progress has been made by all the boys.

Secondly, there was the introduction of Ms Adams’ new initiative, ‘Around the World’, in which she gives presentations to groups of Junior School boys every week about something interesting from elsewhere in the world. On top of this, members of the committee have made their own contributions, such as Alex Marskell (L6J2), whose topic was entitled ‘Why Visit Germany?’ or Joe Ward (L6C1), who spoke about cycling Grand 24 ~ Skylark 2017/18

Tours. The responsibility of MFL TV – the television screen in the languages corridor – was also taken up by a new team, headed by Max Goodkind (L6M1), who, thanks to help from the rest of the committee, as well as members of the MFL Department, has given the screen a new life with the likes of cool and interesting phrases in several languages, linguistic maps, trip photos, music videos and memes. Finally, there is the long-awaited and eagerly anticipated edition of Polyglot – the magazine in which students from Years 7-11 wrote in whatever language they desired, sticking to the theme of ‘Festivals’, with entries relating to festivals from all over the world, from France to China and from Germany to Nigeria.

ANGUS CLELLAND, L6

MATHEMATICS SOCIETY In Mathematics Society, we regularly address mathematical concepts that underpin certain fascinating topics. Having covered the mathematics behind FIFA already this year, the statistical probability behind Monopoly and breaking Enigma, further promising talks, including a crossover with Investor Society to deliver a presentation on ‘Mathematical Instruments in the Financial Markets’, have the potential to really help broaden and satisfy attendees’ intellectual hunger. The society, with Chairman Harjivan Singh (L6H2) and contributors Oliver Holt (L6M1), Jimi Fafowora (L6H2), Mahin Vekaria (L6H2), Purushot Sadagopan (L6C2), Ishan Baig (L6R1) and Pranash Krishnakumar (L6S2), strives to deliver enticing and thoughtprovoking mathematical talks while describing difficult concepts using an ostensibly easy-to-follow method.

OLIVER HOLT, L6

INVESTOR SOCIETY Investor Society, or InvestorSoc, is a rebranding of last year’s Financial Society. With weekly talks on breaking financial developments, InvestorSoc aims to try and educate its members in the world of financial markets and how to invest. Talks regarding the viability of investment in Tesla, concerning cryptocurrency, about investment in streaming companies like Netflix and much more have helped to give attendees insightful analysis into some of the most hotly debated companies and whether to invest in them. With the societal board consisting of Danial Surti (L6S2), Arjun Bhanap (L6J1), Oliver Holt (L6M1), Mahin Vekaria (L6H2) and Dan Gilbey (L6S1), the society delivers a diverse range of opinions on the various investment opportunities with several well-organised debates.

OLIVER HOLT, L6

EVENTS

This academic year at Habs has been accompanied by some incredible events.

As always, the calibre of speakers has been extremely high, varying from lords to former presidents of the Oxford Union. We had the pleasure of attending a number of the events reported about. Highlights include the Schools Shakespeare Festival – an evening of high spirits which saw Habs students from Year 9 perform an amusing version of Much Ado About Nothing. Another high point would be HABSMUN – an organisational feat almost entirely run by students. The participants are so impressive that it’s easy to forget they’re not there in an official capacity!

You need only attend an event at Habs to understand why everyone enjoys their time here so much.

ARON ROSENTHAL, L6, OLIVER RUSSELL, L6 AND SENTHUR SHANMUGARASA, L6

IN THIS SECTION Geography Climate Change Conference Lord Turnberg Visit Economics Conference Michael Vale Trip Politics Dinner Junior School Disco

26 26 27 27 27 28

L6 Theology Conference 28 Outreach At Grimsdyke Primary School 28 Shakespeare Schools Festival 29 Dr Matt Pritchard Visit 29 Noah Lachs Addresses LitSoc 30 HABSMUN 30

Classics and Philosophy Outreach The Physics of the Apache Classics Evening National Language Competitions

31 31 31 32

Skylark 2017/18 ~ 25

GEOGRAPHY CLIMATE CHANGE CONFERENCE ‘Rising sea levels are a major cause for concern in the world’s future.’

That was the opinion of Dr Pete Walton, one of two guest speakers at the annual Habs Climate Change Conference.

He spoke alongside Dr Tom Smith to a gathered group of Year 9 Habs, St Columba’s, Emmanuel, and Watford Girls Grammar School students about the effects of climate change, more specifically rising sea levels and the effects of fires on the atmosphere. Each speaker made points that resonated among the gathered students, and with these points, along with topics they had studied beforehand such as how to control climate change, and how climate change occurs, the students split up to debate resolutions about how to reduce

any further global warming.

The large group of students was split over three locations: the Bourne Hall, the Aske Hall and the Old Refectory.

Each group of students was given a country to represent in the debate, the choice of nations ranging from the USA and China to Papua New Guinea and Tuvalu, which was held in a Model United Nations format, and after each group had written their own resolution, a few were selected by judges to be debated and possibly approved. The main flashpoint was when the opinions and interests of small and big nations clashed – the small nations wanted to impose heavy restrictions on the large industrial nations, since the top 10 emitting countries in the world account for 67.7% of global carbon emissions, whilst the large nations wanted to avoid these restrictions as much as possible, as they could harm their economy or reduce their industrial capacity. After each resolution was read out and debated, a vote was taken to see whether the resolution would be passed – in each hall at least one resolution was approved. It was a great day of debating, but also a day in which the students realised the impacts and

LORD TURNBERG VISIT On 23 January 2018, Lord Turnberg visited Habs to talk on behalf of Politics Society. His large audience, which filled the Old Refectory, included many students from both the Boys’ and Girls’ Schools. He spoke on his book Beyond the Balfour Declaration: The 100-year quest for Israeli-Palestinian Peace and gave a historical insight into the IsraeliPalestinian conflict. This included details about the origins of the Declaration and descriptions of Balfour himself which educated students about the situation that led to the Declaration. Many were surprised to find out that Balfour’s initial promotion to the Cabinet was primarily because the Prime Minister of the day, Lord Salisbury, was his uncle.

He concluded his speech with his thoughts about the current situation and prospects for the future, stressing the need for new brave leadership as well as the need for cooperation between both sides. After his talk, Lord Turnberg received some probing questions from

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the floor that generated much debate and discussion afterwards. Politics Society is extremely grateful to Lord Turnberg for generously giving his time to speak at the School.

ALEX CURTIS, L6

consequences of climate change, most importantly that managing climate change is everyone’s responsibility, and that we should take care of our planet!

JONNY SAWDAY, Y9

EVENTS

ECONOMICS CONFERENCE 14 L6 economists attended both days of the Latymer School Economics Conference 2017, hosted by SOAS University of London. Highlights on day one included a talk by David Lawrence (OH), and a session on population growth and economic development delivered by Dr Ramin Nassehi of SOAS. The second day featured a very lively ‘Question Time’ with the panel comprising Professor David Myddelton (Cranfield), Dr Hassan Hakimian (SOAS) and Professor Jonathan Wadsworth (Royal Holloway). The sessions of the final afternoon covered feminist economics and microfinance. A pleasing feature throughout was the excellent quality of questions from the audience.

M CATLEY

MICHAEL VALE VISIT On 21 November 2017, Michael Vale, the set designer of the hit West End show Jane Eyre (National Theatre) came in to talk to students of GCSE and A Level Theatre Studies about his role building it, in collaboration with director Sally Cookson. The double Olivier Award-nominated set designer educated the boys about the theatrical design process, from planning and sketching, to building and shaping it around the actors.

He then explained how the process of devising a show from scratch and catering his design to it was radically different from designing a set for an already published play. He stated that he didn’t want ‘symbolic meaning to come from the set in itself, but rather from the actor’s interaction with that set.’ He wanted to build a ‘playground’ for the actors in the show, particularly for Nadia Clifford who played the titular character of Jane Eyre, forcing her to physically work hard to get around the stage, filled with ladders, ramps and stairs. He showed pictures and models of his entire process to engage the boys in an interactive experience, which will be very helpful going forward with their exams.

POLITICS DINNER The Politics Dinner at the Girls’ School on the evening of 9 November 2017 was a collaborative event between the Girls’ and Boys’ Schools’ Politics Societies. The Guest of Honour was Claire Fox, British libertarian writer, former member of the Revolutionary Communist Party and director and founder of the Institute of Ideas.

The evening commenced with a reception in the Dining Area at the Girls’ School followed by dinner. Ms Fox discussed the implications of the term ‘snowflake’, colloquially used to describe cosseted and self-righteous millennials with their propensity to take

offence. She pre-emptively warned that some of the audience were sure to be offended by what she had to say.

Naturally this was the case, but the talk was highly enjoyable, irrespective of personal opinion. Ms Fox presented her case with good humour, engaging the audience with her informal and conversational tone. The talk was promptly followed by questions and then some time for general discussion.

All involved found the dinner a pleasurable experience and Ms Fox was thanked for taking the time to come and speak.

ARON ROSENTHAL, L6

ROBERT LAZARUS, L6

Skylark 2017/18 ~ 27

EVENTS

JUNIOR SCHOOL DISCO The much anticipated Junior School Disco was held in the Bourne Hall on 26 March 2018. We were raising money for Hearing Dogs for Deaf People; a charitable organisation which trains dogs to help deaf people. It was a joint disco with the Girls’ School and it gave us an opportunity to make friends with them.

It was funny watching the teachers let their hair down and bust some of their best moves to Flo Rida, and also seeing everyone doing the Macarena. The School Disco was an extremely fun and memorable evening; I can’t wait to go next year.

NIKHIL SHAH, Y7

L6 THEOLOGY CONFERENCE On 8 February 2018 the L6 Theologians went to Bloomsbury Baptist Church, London, to a conference led by Dr Peter Vardy.

Dr Vardy provided guidance and knowledge on specific topics, the first of which was Natural Law. Here he taught and explained the different variations and interpretations of Natural Law, despite their similar origins in Aquinas and Aristotle. Dr Vardy went into detail on the variations of Natural Law put forward by John Finnis, with his strict interpretation of the theory in contrast to Bernard Hoose, and arguably Pope Francis, who have taken a more liberal interpretation of Natural Law and tradition, although they do not go as far as Situation Ethics.

Amongst other things, what I found profoundly intriguing was Dr Vardy’s insight on Dietrich Bonhoeffer and those by whom he was influenced. Dr Vardy described how Bonhoeffer was influenced by philosophers such as Kant, Luther and St Augustine, and how their theology impacted Bonhoeffer. I found this interesting because of how it is important to know the background of Bonhoeffer’s theology to truly understand him and his arguments.

Overall, my classmates and I found the conference extremely interesting and highly beneficial. This was due to Dr Vardy’s attention to detail, as well as his broad knowledge of subjects. Not only did he help with essay guidance and how to get A02 marks especially, but

he also helped to introduce the topic on Bonhoeffer’s moral teachings, as well as providing varying and challenging viewpoints for topics such as faith and reason.

WILLIAM UPSON, L6

OUTREACH AT GRIMSDYKE PRIMARY SCHOOL In March, we were invited to present a workshop at the school and had the opportunity of working with three

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classes of Year 1 students at Grimsdyke Primary School.

Our STEM presentation introduced properties of magnets through exploration and hands-on activities.

From looking at magnetic fields; the use of magnets in toys and skidding along the floor to show how magnets create motion, the L6 students were engaging teachers to these young people.

Matthew Copley (L6J1), Harjivan Sungh (L6H2) and Purushot Sadagopan (L6C2) spent the morning ensuring a riveting experience for the students of Grimsdyke. Staff at the school commented on our Sixth Formers being excellent role models.

We are looking forward to being invited back again in the near future.

N HARTE

EVENTS

SHAKESPEARE SCHOOLS FESTIVAL The Shakespeare Schools Festival is an annual event involving approximately 30,000 students at all levels of education across a huge variety of backgrounds. The festival emphasises inclusivity and unity and is the world’s largest youth drama festival. On 22 November 2017 at the Arts Depot in London, 15 Year 9 boys and girls from Habs performed an abridged production of Much Ado About Nothing, a comedy written by Shakespeare during the middle of his career. The evening consisted of four 30-minute plays, including Twelfth Night, The Tempest and Romeo and Juliet. The Habs play was directed by Mrs Morris-Wolffe, assisted

by Ms Nairne. The performance was relatively stripped back and the use of props was limited. However, this failed to hinder an outstanding production by the

cast who utilised the entirety of the large performance space.

The Habs production had a notable abundance of energy, kept up by the performers throughout. The actors showed an impressive level of maturity in their portrayals, forging believable relationships onstage between their characters. Credit must go to Om Muthukumar (9S2) who delivered a highly animated, and physical interpretation of Benedick, and Samuel Newman (9M2), who portrayed an extremely funny version of Dogberry with his Yorkshire accent and clumsy manner. Credit must also go to the rest of the cast, all of whom delivered distinct and thoughtful performances.

ARON ROSENTHAL, L6 It was a privilege to be involved in the Shakespeare Schools Festival, a great opportunity to act out a Shakespeare play in 30 minutes. It was a great experience mainly due to the fun and the superb production it turned out to be. It was a fantastically well-organised drama production, and the Shakespearean language was not difficult to understand due to the amazingly made script. The whole cast and I learned many things while rehearsing the play, which could definitely be used in other productions.

I’m sure everyone enjoyed the challenge of putting together a Shakespeare play. There were many rehearsals that went into this play; every time there was something to work on. The many rehearsals did not go to waste – on the night of the play, everyone acted it out brilliantly in front of a massive crowd who certainly loved it. Also, we got to watch three other really nice productions on the night, similar to ours – they were

also just under 30 minutes but a different Shakespeare play. Overall it was an incredible production put together by a fantastic cast and two brilliant teachers!

JATIN GUPTA, Y9

DR MATT PRITCHARD VISIT On 30 January 2018, Science Society held their annual keynote lecture, featuring Dr Matt Pritchard. Dr Pritchard gave a wonderful and fun-filled account of the links between science, engineering and magic.

The event brought together keen young scientists from the Senior Boys’ and Girls’ Schools, as well as the Prep School.

This audience was treated to a whistlestop show highlighting the influence of innovators such as Brunel, Tesla, RobertHoudin, and ending with Elon Musk. Each of these figures have developed groundbreaking technologies based on effects

that were once thought to be magic or supernatural.

The show featured many thoughtprovoking demonstrations, that were difficult to explain immediately. Dr Pritchard then showed how science could demystify what had just been witnessed.

However, he reminded the audience that often the wonder is understanding, quoting Terry Pratchett: ‘It didn’t stop being magic just because you found out how it was done…’

A CHAPMAN Skylark 2017/18 ~ 29

EVENTS

NOAH LACHS ADDRESSES LITSOC On 14 March 2018, LitSoc was delighted to welcome the former President of the Oxford Union, Noah Lachs, to speak about how political slogans are manipulated and influenced by the English language.

Mr Lachs engaged with all members of the audience as he opened up his presentation to comments and questions from his listeners. He began the presentation by discussing George Orwell’s essay on ‘Politics and the English Language’. He presented the audience with various pieces of political rhetoric and asked whether they were vague or incompetent according to Orwell’s classifications. Having determined the general consensus, he explained his view.

As an exercise, this was both amusing and thought-provoking as it revealed how often political language in the modern day is evasive and/or incoherent.

The audience was then presented with a number of political campaign slogans.

Mr Lachs compared the successful campaign slogans with the unsuccessful, demonstrating a distinct correlation between the memorability of the slogan and the victory of the campaign. He closely analysed key words and phrases, explaining why they did or didn’t stick in the voter’s mind. This truly demonstrated the subtle and understated importance of language in the context of persuasion and campaign strategy.

Mr Lachs also touched upon his already eventful career in which he has acted as the President and Treasurer-Elect of the Oxford Union and met a number of fascinating and prominent individuals.

Mr Lachs’ funny and outgoing style immediately put his audience at ease, making his presentation all the more enjoyable. More LitSoc events are scheduled to take place in the near future, promising to provide new and interesting perspectives on all things literary.

ARON ROSENTHAL, L6

HABSMUN HABSMUN 2018 was the 10th anniversary of the School’s annual Model United Nations conference, welcoming 400 students from 30 different schools.

With delegates coming from as far as Germany, the 10th edition of the conference promised to be the best HABSMUN yet and it did not disappoint.

There were eight committees that were tasked with dealing with problems as varying as the militarisation of the South China Sea, religious freedom and cyber security. This was the first year that HABSMUN was THIMUN-affiliated, meaning it has been certified as a high quality international conference.

The conference began on a Friday evening, as delegates arrived to lobby their resolutions and improve their teamwork and communication skills, as well as getting the chance to meet other students from a variety of different backgrounds. After having gained the required number of signatures for the resolutions, the students had dinner in the Bates Dining Hall and took their seats for the opening ceremony. The ceremony started with an address by the Headmaster and was then followed by a speech by Mike Penrose, the executive director of UNICEF. He spoke about the importance of education in all walks of life and alluded to the importance of educating those in poverty to enable them to escape the poverty cycle, as well as education being one of the most important tools to help achieve gender equality in all nations. The Head Chairs

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of each committee then spoke about the topics that their committees would be discussing over the course of the weekend and Deputy Secretary-General Jamie Slagel spoke about his personal experiences in MUN and what can be learned from the activity. Finally, the conference was officially opened by Jamie and Abbas Kermalli (Secretary-General).

Saturday was the day when most of the debate in committees occurred and delegates tackled all the various and complex issues with sophistication and maturity, both in the resolutions themselves and the speeches about them. Committees achieved a healthy balance between humour and serious debate as they grappled with some of the most challenging geopolitical issues of the 21st Century and produced innovative solutions to these problems.

One significant addition to HABSMUN was that of the Emergency Committee which was assembled on Saturday afternoon to tackle the timely incident of the Salisbury nerve agent attack in the UK and produce a diplomatic remedy to a highly volatile situation. It is situations like this which make MUN so valuable, as they reaffirm students’ belief in the United Nations and other intergovernmental organisations to deal with global crises and encourage multilateralism and internationalism in a political climate that increasingly promotes nationalism and protectionism.

Sunday saw the debate in committees draw to a close. However, as committee debate ended, it meant that the General Assembly was in session. This is where all delegates debate together in a grand committee of sorts and debate the resolutions passed in committee.

This is a final check on an already high standard of resolutions and is the highest standard of debate. A productive General Assembly passed multiple resolutions and facilitated meaningful dialogue. The conclusion of the General Assembly was followed by the Closing Ceremony. This saw Mr Amlot address the conference as well as chairs of every committee giving their highlights of the weekend. Finally, Abbas closed the conference with an emotional speech at his final conference about the importance of MUN in his personal development and it was a poignant finish to the conference.

Many thanks must go to all those involved in the organisation and running of the conference. Particular thanks must go to Mr Cooper (Director of Approvals), Mr Simm (Director without Portfolio) and Mr Pauletto (Director of HABSMUN).

This was Mr Pauletto’s last conference and his contribution to HABSMUN is often undervalued but without him this conference would simply not have been possible.

ADITYA VENKATRAMAN, L6 AND ALEX CURTIS, L6

EVENTS

CLASSICS AND PHILOSOPHY OUTREACH On 21 June 2018, the Classics and Philosophy Departments welcomed pupils form Bushey Heath Primary School. The L6 boys studying Classics and Philosophy put on a range of activities to introduce these Year 6 pupils to the study of the subjects.

Among the activities which the boys and girls from Bushey Heath enjoyed were to make heir own Roman household gods from clay, to solve the ancient philosopher Zeno’s paradox of Theseus’ boat and to produce a storyboard for the Daedalus and Icarus myth.

The Sixth Formers did most of the teaching and mentoring during the day and did an excellent job. They engaged with the pupils and got the best out of them. Both departments were very impressed.

We look forward to holding more such events and inviting more primary schools to take part in future. Thank in particular to the L6 boys involved.

E SIMONS

THE PHYSICS OF THE APACHE On 14 March 2018, the boys and staff at Habs were treated to a visit by an Apache helicopter from MoD Boscombe Down, the home of the Empire Test Pilots’ School, in Wiltshire.

Two pilots kindly gave up their time to take part in pre-organised physics and CCF lessons. They arrived in some style, landing near the cricket square in front of Aldenham House, where boys and staff watched on. Rapturous applause greeted the pilots as they disembarked the helicopter.

The benefit of the visit to Habs was twofold. Firstly, one pilot addressed the Sixth Form physicists on the features of the aircraft and its design. This was largely a question and answer session in the Aske Hall. There were many technical aspects raised, and popular areas for questioning included generating force for lift and motion; minimising risk of detection and locating enemy lasers and rocket launchers.

Pleasingly, in typical Habs fashion, the boys were still asking questions after the allotted hour was up!

Secondly, this was an opportunity for the boys to see such a sophisticated aircraft close up. While one pilot was in the Aske Hall,

the other pilot stayed by the helicopter for almost two hours, where he took questions from physics students, CCF cadets and boys from across the School.

When taking off to depart, the pilots remained in the hover position before leaving the School to return to their base. The Army want to show future physicists and engineers how they can apply much of what they are being taught in innovative, practical and creative ways. They want to inspire and interest boys into pursuing an aeronautical career.

The School is thankful to everyone who was involved in the day, particularly the two pilots and the physics staff for organising the event.

J SUCHAK

CLASSICS EVENING Current students, Old Boys and pupils from the Girls’ School and Haberdashers’ Aske’s Hatcham College all attended our second Classics Evening held this year – appropriately enough – in the Olympian Suite of the Medburn Centre.

Over a buffet meal, boys and girls studying Classical subjects in all three schools, plus former pupils and members of staff listened to two fascinating talks on Classical subjects.

The first speaker was Dr Paul Roberts, an Old Haberdasher (Monmouth) and now Keeper of Antiquities at the Ashmolean Museum, who gave a talk about ‘The Last Supper at Pompeii’ and showed us some of the artefacts buried by volcanic ash after the eruption of Vesuvius in ancient times. Later, Dr Carrie Vout, Lecturer in Classics at Christ’s College, Cambridge, and a one-time fellow Classics undergraduate with Ms Simons, spoke on ‘The Classical Body in Context’.

E SIMONS

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EVENTS

NATIONAL LANGUAGE COMPETITIONS French Debating Final ‘Bravo!’ to Joey Gardner-White (U6C2) and Gidi Katz (U6S2) who reached the Grand Final of the national French Debating Competition at the Institut Français in South Kensington after a day of debating against schools who had won their regional rounds across the UK.

M BARDOU

German Debating Final The first round of the national German Debating Competition, run by the prestigious Goethe-Institut, took place last November and the team of Ben Morris (U6H2), Franco Tang (U6H1), Joey Gardner–White (U6C2) and Josef Wheeler (U6C1) had great success debating under the theme that a common language should be used across the EU, winning against Dr Challoner’s.

Further victories against Latymer Upper School and Sevenoaks School at the Goethe-Institut debating a plethora of EU–related themes followed and took the four boys to the final, where the debate was centred around the idea of European Political Parties (Europaparteien).

Despite the best efforts of the team, the Sir John Lawes School’s superior preparation showed on the day and as such the Habs team was unfortunate to lose in a close decision in the final at the British Council. Despite this, the students can look back on the journey with pride and certainly saw an improvement in their German and debating skills.

Moreover, all students were rewarded with state-of-the-art iPads as reward for their highly impressive and composed performances all round. Many thanks must go to Mr Nayci, Ms Hanlon and Mr Geering for helping to prepare the team and organising what has been an enjoyable and enlightening experience for all involved.

JOSEF WHEELER, U6

French Drama Festival Champions Habs won Best Play (the most prestigious award) at the French Drama Festival at King Alfred School.

Gidi Katz (U6S2), Josh BaumringGledhill (U6M1), Joe Ward (L6C1) and Alexander Morzeria-Davis (U6H2) blew the audience and judges away with their hilarious scene from the play Ma Femme s’appelle Maurice.

The judges commented on the quality of their acting and their outstanding spoken French.

M BARDOU

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ORIGINALS - DT

This year in Design & Technology, Habs has seen a large amount of sweat and tears shed by the students and possibly the teachers too, through the completion of the GCSE and A Level projects. The cohort that has just finished these qualifications is one of the last set of boys to go through these, with the implementation of new courses throughout the year and a complete rebranding of the Department to Design Engineering. This move sees a focus on Robotics and Engineering to ready the students for the future at university and in careers. In addition, with the graduating Year 11 cohort, we see two successful Arkwright Scholars continuing their craft.

The new opportunities such as the Greenpower challenge and the VEX robotics competition allow for interests in the subject to strengthen. With all the change in the Department, we also see two of its longest-serving teachers leave at the end of the school year – Mr Holmes and Mr Dathan – who have both given many successful years to the Department and have seen through generations of students. We are extremely grateful to them for all they have done.

RICHARD ZHONG, L6

IN THIS SECTION Greenpower Challenge Design & Technology GCSE DT Coursework

34 35 35 36

Private View Guest Speaker GCSE Exhibition Arkwright Success A Level

39 39 39 40

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GREENPOWER CHALLENGE This year saw the Department undertake their first build as part of the Greenpower challenge. The aim of the challenge is to promote Engineering and Technology as future careers. The scheme is a unique hands-on project, where pupils design, build and race an electric car.

Students were selected from those in the 2017 GCSE cohort, who had shown considerable aptitude and endeavour in developing creative, analytical, technical and evaluative skills. The category we are looking to enter is the Formula 24 series. This formula is intended for participants between 11 and 16, with AS Level students running the team and directing developments. The overall engineering and driving, however, would be achieved by pupils up to GCSE level.

This age range was chosen to inspire the younger years to pursue engineering as a potential future career.

Pupils starting the scheme have been constructing the Greenpower Kit Car. This car includes a chassis and running gear and gives us a simple, relatively competitive starting point which has scope for development year on year.

Completing the first car will then promote continuous development and encourage participants further, developing their skills and knowledge.

Depending on the level of interest in the School, key team members may also be able to stay with the competition throughout their education, gaining enthusiasm and experience as they progress.

• Electronics & Electrics;

The engineering of an electric car covers theory from a multitude of subjects and is a practical reinforcement of the knowledge students gain from Physics and Mathematics. Shown below are just some of the areas they will be investigating first-hand:

•N ikhil Baid (10C2), Oliver Jayson (10R1), Soham Kanabar (10J2), Daanysh Mirza (10C1);

• Alternative Energy and Sustainability; • Aerodynamics;

•E nergy Transference – (Electrical, kinetic and energy loss in systems); • Gears and Gearing; • Materials and Properties; •W eight Distribution and Centres of Gravity; • Polar Moments; •K inetic Energy and reduction of friction in complex systems (brakes, bearings, wheels, axles, steering, tracking).

Initial team members:

•N eil Mitra (10C1), Arun Nandakumar (10J1), Mackenzie Pullen (10M1), Daniel Rivlin (10R1); •A lex Rich (10M1), Milan Saini (10H1), Raagawin Srikantharuban (10C1), Ram Vekaria (10S2), Joseph Wolffe (10S1).

As part of the challenge, pupils selected will also be required to raise funds for materials and components. It is intended that the students involved should seek sponsorship from local businesses to help fund the entry and build of their design. Asking students to raise funds is intended to have the dual role of raising the profile of the work we do at Habs to the wider business community and ensuring that pupils have true commitment to the challenge.

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S VINCENT

ORIGINALS - DESIGN & TECHNOLOGY

DESIGN & TECHNOLOGY Last year was a busy one in Design & Technology and yet we enjoyed another successful set of examination results with the A Level students all achieving A grades and GCSE achieving an outstanding 97.8% pass rate at A or A*. We have worked on preparing our curriculum for the rigours of the new A Level and GCSE courses and launched a number of new opportunities for the students including entry into the Greenpower challenge, where pupils work on the design and construction

of an electric racing car, and also the VEX robotics competition. We have also launched the Arkwright Scholarships in school this year and I am very pleased to tell you that two of our students, Toby Cowan (L6H2) and Dylan Shah (L6H2) were successful in their applications. This is a highly sought-after opportunity and their achievement is not to be downplayed.

S VINCENT

GCSE DT GCSE Design & Technology (DT) was an interesting experience, one that reaped the rewards for hard work and effort. The GCSE course was somewhat a stepping stone for the transition that all of Year 11 must take into the Sixth Form and the world of work. It is a course that demands a good work ethic, flexibility and confidence. Within this short article I wish to convey what taking the course is all about and the journey to eventually complete a two-year design project.

My decision to take DT through to GCSE was almost certain. Ever since Year 7, the idea of making anything I could drew me in; this eagerness to create drove me to choose this subject. In conjunction with the range of projects and clear guidance of the teachers throughout, my junior years allowed me to have a connection with the Department. The subject in my opinion gives students the biggest learning curve at the GCSE level of work, since it encourages and requires you to be creative and innovative, as well as boosting skills such as critical thinking, drawing and independent learning albeit in a creative manner. The course is also one of the most rewarding – not only do you receive a piece of paper with your grade on it; you are able to have the manifestation of your hard work that stemmed from your work. You are able to claim to have seen your final product through from start to end, although it may have not been a smooth sail. The course, in some cases, is very much what Sixth Form life is like: a clear idea of independent learning is key but some use of your initiative is key to success.

The journey I had faced had its ups and downs, but it’s what made the DT course so memorable. The project that I had decided to take up was to build a lamp that would be on sale at a museum of my choice. As the transition to Year 10 occurred, we would hear that for DT it is wise to choose a design which is challenging but easy and fast to make in order to best reach an A* grade.

Being so excited to design something I had created many designs that in my somewhat childish mind would be ‘cool’ and be able to fulfil the ‘organic design era’ style I had picked out at the beginning of the project. Mr Hardman, who took our class in Year 10, was very helpful and opened our eyes to what GCSE DT was meant to be and allowed us to experiment with different media to show the potential of our simple sketches. Mr Hardman additionally throughout Year 10 let the class improve with their practical skills within the workshop, where we made many models to show the form of our prototypes. As we made our way to our second year of GCSE DT, we had a teacher swap, where the new Head of DT, Mr Vincent, became our teacher. In Year 11, as a class we had a wake-up call; many of us had realised the deadline was soon and our projects and/or coursework were still lacking; a further taste of what A Levels are like. The real challenge had begun, my challenge being that my design had been too childish or too basic. In hindsight, the challenge of returning to, and improving, my idea developed my ability to get on with work even if problems occurred, making me a more independent, confident learner.

The year consisted of many lunchtime and after school visits to the DT Department, countless pieces of foams being cut, glued and labelled and numerous pieces of flexible plywood being moulded and hours of wiring, polishing and sanding to finish my project. The hours spent over a workbench proved to be worth it and the sense of achievement to see a fully working lamp was fantastic. The design process could not have been completed without the helpful guidance of both Mr Vincent and Mr Hardman, who both aided our GCSE DT journey, in addition to the mastermind of machines in the Department, Mr Cox, who is a genius at what he does and is always present to help us – clueless students. Overall, Design & Technology is simply not just a creative subject, rather it is a subject that teaches you to become better, a subject that forms you into an independent, confident learner and allows you to appreciate the backbone of everything we use. The course is one of the finest in the repertoire students can choose and one I recommend and miss as I move on to A Levels.

RICHARD ZHONG, L6

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ORIGINALS - DESIGN & TECHNOLOGY

COURSEWORK

Blaise Quinton (L6S1) Radio

Brett Posner (L6C1) Lighthouse Lamp

Eeshan Mahadeo-Heads (L6J2) Saxophone Stand

Sujan Satheshkumar (L6M2) Gadget Tidy

Lakshman Ketheeswaran (L6J2) Guitar Holder

Aryaman Jhunjhunwala (L6H2) Leaf Lamp

Aditya Venkatraman (L6C2) Camera Holder

Sayan Paheerathan (L6R1) Bassoon Stand

James Verghese (L6S1) Organic Design Lamp

Arjun Bhanap (L6J1) Bird Feeder Joe Ward (L6C1) Bike Rack

Louis Flinn (L6J1) Gadget Tidy 36 ~ Skylark 2017/18

James Barnett (L6C2) Barbecue

ORIGINALS - DESIGN & TECHNOLOGY

Rushil Hora (L6C1) Gadget Tidy

Yousuf Hussain (L6S2) Desk Tidy

Hemal Parekh (L6S2) Folding Guitar Stool

Justin Ooi (L6S1) Gadget Tidy

Keeran Mahendra-Kumar (L6S1) Gadget Tidy

Eugene Tsang (L6S2) Elephant Toy

Neil Sanghrajka (L6J1) Garden Trolley

Toby Cowan (L6H2) Camping Stove Holder Richard Zhong (L6M1) Organic Design Lamp

Rishi Shah (L6M2) Adjustable Lamp

Ravinder Sheera (L6H2) Transformer Toy Ali Talibhusein (L6R1) Xbox Gadget Tidy

Ben Epstein (L6C2) Mechanical Toy Skylark 2017/18 ~ 37

ORIGINALS - DESIGN & TECHNOLOGY

Viresh Kanakaratnam (L6R2) Saxophone Tidy

Edward Gibbins (L6C1) Drum Stick Amp Robin Koh (L6R1) Wii Console Holder

Alex Curtis (L6J2) Gadget Tidy

Dylan Shah (L6H2) Vespa Lamp

Angus Clelland (L6R2) Drag Strip Challenge

Theo Snee (L6C1) Laptop Gadget Tidy James Lancer (L6H1) Gadget Tidy

Thomas Cheng (L6H1) Sofa Remote Tidy Nadav Blane Damelin (L6R1) Gadget Tidy

James Hughes (L6R1) Guitar Speaker Amp Jamie Ellisson (L6H1) Desk Tidy

38 ~ Skylark 2017/18

Imran Asaria (L6S2) Gadget Tidy

Josh Edwards (L6J2) Boot Cleaner

ORIGINALS - DESIGN & TECHNOLOGY

PRIVATE VIEW GUEST SPEAKER Our guest speaker at the private view this year was Andrew Tarpey (OH 1997), who studied Mathematics, Physics and Chemistry to pursue a degree in Materials Engineering, ultimately leaving Birmingham with an MEng in the subject in 2002. He started working for Jaguar Land Rover and remains there still. During his time, he has been involved in a number of projects and

is, perhaps, best known for his work with aerospace grade epoxy resins which are used in conjunction with rivets on Jaguar’s aluminium based cars – it is notable that he gained himself the nickname ‘Mr Glue’ at this time, reflecting his activities.

In the last five years, he has moved on in his role to looking at the realities

of what happens to cars during their lifespan and ensuring the cars are capable of performing in a variety of environments and conditions. It is Mr Tarpey, then, who is responsible for the cars the company develops being able to function in the -40C temperatures in Russia to 50C in Dubai.

S VINCENT

GCSE EXHIBITION

ARKWRIGHT SUCCESS The School’s Design and Technology Department is delighted that, in our first year offering entry to the scholarship, two students; Toby Cowan (L6H2) and Dylan Shah (L6H2) were awarded the prestigious Arkwright Engineering Scholarship at a ceremony held on 3 November 2017.

The Arkwright Engineering Scholarships act as a beacon to the most talented STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) students in UK schools and will help to ensure our boys stay engaged in the engineering careers pipeline. In 2017, 1,594 students applied to be an Arkwright Engineering Scholar, with only 425 students being awarded one of these invaluable Scholarships.

Scholars are selected for their potential as future engineering leaders by assessing their academic, practical and leadership skills in STEM. These are gauged through a rigorous selection process comprising: an assessed application form, including a teacher’s reference; a two-hour, problem-solving aptitude exam; and a university-based interview. Toby and Dylan demonstrated their considerable talent throughout the process, marking their first steps in hopefully long and successful careers in engineering.

The Scholarships consist of an annual financial award to each Scholar and to the School, and enrichment activities such as mentoring and industry visits

that enhance a Scholar’s experience of engineering in a real-world context.

Arkwright Engineering Scholarships are highly regarded by university admission tutors and industry recruiters and are one of the most prestigious accolades that a talented Sixth Form student can receive.

S VINCENT Why did you do Arkwright?

I heard about it through school from our DT teachers and had aspirations to go into engineering. I was also intrigued by the enrichment opportunities it offered.

The Arkwright website stated: ‘Scholars have access to a wide variety of exclusive events run by our partner companies, universities and trade associations.

These will give you an insight into aspects of different sectors of industry and academia. Through our quarterly E-newsletter we also provide Scholars with access to third-party events, lectures and competitions.’

What were your impressions of the exam and what were the hardest aspects of it?

It was less academic; rather it was a test of real world applications of maths and physics and creativity in which there was two hours to come up with various functional designs in order to solve various problems or certain fixes to meet certain criteria.

What did you learn from the experience?

The experience improved my practical knowledge of engineering whilst preparing for the actual exam – for example mechanism and various other areas that are not covered by the DT specification, in addition to allowing me to gain a range of transferable thinking skills.

What is the most enjoyable aspect of DT at GCSE and A Level?

The ability to create and develop an idea before building it. It allows for testing and improvement of the said idea. The design process is very enjoyable and satisfying since it gives a taste of what real world engineering is like.

What are your future aspirations and how do you think the Scholarship will aid your future career?

I hope to study mechanical engineering at university, aspiring to a place at Imperial College London or the University of Bristol. As of now, I am not sure Skylark 2017/18 ~ 39

ORIGINALS - DESIGN & TECHNOLOGY

what thread of engineering I want to do past undergraduate level; however a mechanical engineering degree, allowing me to specialise in a large number of disciplines, would be very useful.

skills such as coding and allows for a large range of practical knowledge which will be very useful in the long run.

The Scholarship has given me an opportunity to apply for an exclusive general engineering course at the University of Nottingham, as well as to have a mentor who is currently a materials engineer from Jaguar Land Rover, who has opened my eyes to a career in automotive engineering.

Why did you do Arkwright?

What advice would you give to any aspiring engineers in the lower years?

If you even think you might be interested in engineering, try it out! There are so many courses available for people of all ages, I would recommend in particular the Headstart courses, although only for Year 12, and Smallpeice courses. Give one a go and see if any aspect of it appeals to you.

It is, however, important to remember that there are a huge number of types of engineering available, so if you dislike, for example, civil engineering, don’t be afraid to try any one of the others, be it aeronautical, automotive, biomedical, electronic, systems or even water resources engineering. There are literally hundreds of types of engineering so it is important to start figuring out which one sounds most appealing early on.

DYLAN SHAH, L6

I saw it as an opportunity to take my interest in engineering further than the position I was already in. I also saw it as something that wouldn’t have any negative impact if I didn’t get it, and it would be great if I did.

What were your impressions of the exam and what were the hardest aspects of it?

The exam was very difficult as it was nothing like anything I had done before.

Coming up with lots of ideas and explaining them clearly in a short amount of time was very difficult. The interview was also a new experience; however, going to a university and spending time with other like-minded students was great.

What did you learn from the experience?

The most valuable thing I learned was getting an interview and how the interview and assessment centre process works. I also learned that going for an opportunity even if you don’t know if you’re going to get it, is a good idea.

Why would you recommend DT as a subject?

What is the most enjoyable aspect of DT at GCSE and A Level?

I would recommend it as it offers a taste of what engineering in the real world entails, as well as being a subject that allows you to be as creative as you want.

It is also a recommended subject for those who want to study engineering at university. The course itself applies other

My favourite part of DT has been the practical aspect of designing our projects and going through the whole process such as planning it and then seeing it come to life and interacting with it as a full-size project after the amount of work in order to design in such a way for it to

A LEVEL REPORT This year’s A Level student, Finn Heraghty (OH 2017), used his experience of teaching people to sail as the context for his major project.

Having found that beginners struggle with learning the key techniques, he set about designing a training aid to easily

be a functional project and the ability to see a finished product.

What are your future aspirations and how do you think the Scholarship will aid your future career?

I would like to do a Master’s in Mechanical Engineering at the University of Birmingham, and then go on into a career working with a car company then hopefully from there venturing into something to do with sustainability or Formula E. What advice would you give to any aspiring engineers in the lower years?

I would tell a younger engineer to get their hands stuck in with making small projects at home or to pick up an engineering-oriented hobby like RC cars, as this will occupy them and hone their skills.

Why would you recommend DT as a subject?

I would recommend it because of the practical aspects which allow for skills, such as computer-aided design and making to be improved. Whilst improving such skills, you are able to be creative in your approach to your own desired project.

TOBY COWAN, L6

show some of the main concepts, focussing on: • Tacking and gybing (different types of turning); • The points of sail (directions in which you sail in comparison to the wind); • The five essentials (five things which can be adjusted on a dinghy to vary its performance).

His solution was simple in concept, showing how a boat moves in different wind conditions with a model that can be used in a classroom environment.

This involved producing a practical simulation which meant the theory could be delivered to a greater number of students, reducing costs and this is something that is currently delivered with land drills.

Finn’s project was successful in reaching the grand final of the 2017 Triumph Design Awards. At the awards Finn had the opportunity to exhibit his work alongside other finalists and discuss their projects with our senior judging panel, comprising the Design Director and Chief Engineers from Triumph Motorcycles Ltd.

S VINCENT 40 ~ Skylark 2017/18

ORIGINALS - LITERATURE

Editing the Literature section this year has opened my eyes to the immense creativity of students at Habs. It has been an amazing experience to read these stories and poems, all of which showcase the brilliant ability of their authors to manipulate words, creating stunning images in the process. The style adopted in some of these pieces is outstanding, and really displays the aptitude of pupils to write breathtakingly good stories.

I would encourage all students at Habs to have a go at composing a piece of creative writing, and even to submit one to Scribe. The pieces that are the best always have passion behind them – passion from an experience that the author has had. So, use your voice and have a go at creative writing next year, whether it be a poem, a short story or even an epic!

SHAURYA KOTHARI, L6

IN THIS SECTION Days Gone By Dirt Harry Natural History Two Poems

42 42 43 43 43

Skylark 2017/18 ~ 41

ORIGINALS - LITERATURE

DAYS GONE BY The old man swayed back and forth on his rocking chair, wearing an eerily blank expression. It was a tough life he lived, his thoughts laboured, movements strained, and the company of those around him dwindling just like the leaves that lay shrivelled up on the oak veranda. Now, on this gloomy autumn night Theodore Clemens was left in the company of Cain, a disinterested teenager forced against his will to stay with his grandpa at the ranch.

Suddenly Theodore’s face and gestures became animated as if he had just been drenched in ice-cold water. ‘And on that occasion I did knock out Joe Cooper! It wasn’t pretty, but boy did I relish it!’ he exclaimed gleefully, his back moving out of the comfortable arc of the chair he’d moulded, now angling himself upright.

‘You don’t see that kind of thing from kids nowadays. A bit of rough-and-tumble would be nice to see. Nowadays they’re all cooped up at home staring at their e-gadgets.’

His grandpa loved to hark back to what he fondly called ‘simpler’ times but to Cain they were best left in the past. In fact, he loathed the lectures he received from a generation unaccustomed to modernity, pretending that the days when tuition was dirt cheap and a minimum wage job could still buy you a house persisted. Much of his extended family, like Theodore, continued to live rurally, occupying a world where people earned less but could afford more, where society was more homogeneous yet more fearful of change, and so for a college-bound student hoping to study liberal arts, opinions from this class of people seemed obsolete.

‘I knew this country was going to be in the dumps after Nixon was elected. I tried to tell people but no one would listen. Now everyone’s surprised but me.’

Cain slowly averted his gaze, looking out onto the desolate scenery ahead. Mangled grass was interspersed with patches of hardening soil and withering plants. The only animal on the plot of land meant to be grazing, an old cow by the name of Betty, lay sedentary, its eyes watery and swollen.

Cain debated whether or not to ask about the decrepit state of the ranch, but decided against it. After all, why enquire about something like that when you won’t do anything about it?

The sky was barren but for a handful of dimming stars. The old pine trees which were scattered around the ranch shifted meekly from side to side as if they were careful not to disrupt what it was Theodore had to say. Cain remembered a time when he eagerly sought refuge here, finding it to be a welcome break from the urban jungle that was New York. But now he yearned to go back home, to re-enter the circuitry of modern society by messaging his friends, watching the latest basketball game, uploading that flattering picture of himself for public consumption. All of that now eluded him, and to him that was deeply unsettling. That the gravelly road, which he felt was the only exit from his worries, was barely visible prompted the scraggly

42 ~ Skylark 2017/18

teenager to abandon his fantasies of an early exit and to remind himself of where he was.

‘It’s getting cold; perhaps we should head back in.’ Cain commented casually. After being met with no response, he removed any pretence of choice and headed for the doors which led back into the house, and would have entered were it not for the shaking hand which gripped the end of his shirt tightly.

‘But isn’t it such a lovely day?’ Theodore pleaded with quivering lips. His gaze was so sharp and insistent that his startled grandson relented, being transfixed by a worrying sense that some private part of his thoughts had been seen through in some way.

‘Why, this is one of the prettiest nights I’ve ever witnessed! Would you look at those stars!’

Theodore had hit his stride now, regaining the rampant optimism that was so curiously characteristic of him. It not was a state of being that seemed to possess him naturally but one which he consciously clung on to. It felt precarious, like a tightrope walker on a high-rise building, Cain thought. But again he chose to be passive, to weather the storm of confused and unbridled thoughts being hurled at him by Theodore. Soon it would be dinner and then he could excuse himself.

‘One thing I must say though,’ Theodore muttered, now slumping back into his chair as his face reverted to its vacant appearance, ‘is I’m glad you take an interest in the ranch. It ain’t quite what it used to be, but I’ll be damned if it goes away on my watch. Your mother tells me you’re a good writer. Perhaps you can write down what I have to say about it?’

Cain nodded insincerely. He hadn’t quite heard what had been said but he had identified it as one of those half-hearted requests that he’d grown acquainted to these past few days, and he knew from experience that all he had to do was tamely acknowledge it and move on.

‘I wanted to be a writer when I was your age,’ Theodore added, trying to bridge the verbal yet palpable void between himself and the young boy. Despite his contrived tone, Cain detected a poorly concealed wistfulness behind that remark. His grandfather began to appear detached, and as his tense posture loosened he passively allowed the rocking chair to guide him.

Then, for the first time, Cain had begun to feel sympathy for his grandfather, a man who had lived his life diligently, had wronged no one, and now was living out the twilight of his life here alone. Beneath all of the youthful apathy which cloaked Cain, there nonetheless lay vast reserves of appreciation for the man who sat opposite him. It was rejuvenating to consider this, and so grabbing on to this newfound sensation, he resolved to perhaps make more of an effort to forge some affinity with the old man.

‘Grandpa?’

DIRT The charred plain of my palm Blackened, steeped in it, caked With the dirt of eons past Fingernails scowling brown Just like my father’s, and His before him: that’s our Legacy of Dirt – ‘Crack! Once more!

Crack! Again!

Crack! Keep going!

Don’t stop or the sun’ll eat you alive, Leave your corpse for the vultures, Rip the rotting flesh away from the bone, Savour whatever little nourishment they can gain, They will pursue it, believe me. So once more I say, Drive the metal home, into the Dirt!

Your past, present and future belong to it, You are slaves of it, You are Filth chained by iron to Filth, And you will come to love it, Just as it has always loved you.’

Those same words Dribbling from those caked lips, Every word the rope’s barb upon my back, Every word holding itself true, Every word lying still, motionless In the arid air, suspended by fear Supported by lies; Fused in harmonious symbiosis with the Dirt, They are hushedly spoken, lodged In those forgotten crevices.

I beckon Death to take me, The door is slightly ajar, please Take me!

Am I soaring or suffocating?

I cannot tell.

I tumble into the chasm, And land on my bed of Dirt.

Those same words rise out of it, and find their way to me.

You are Filth chained by iron to Filth.

I become calm; the storm subsides As I dig my fingers into the Dirt once more.

Never forget, I tell myself Three summers past, Under the sun’s melancholy haze After those barbs found flesh again My lips touched that very same Dirt, Finding peace, Eternally.

ABHISEKH CHATTERJEE, Y11

Now Theodore lay keeled over, his head sloppily dangling to one side. The newlyformed corpse now seemed grotesquely contorted like it was pleading for salvation.

It was, ironically, in death that the eyes of Theodore Clemens now gained some purpose, as if they implored for his grandson to do better, to be better.

The cow stood up and walked towards the trough.

ADITYA DABRAL, U6

ORIGINALS - LITERATURE

HARRY ‘Worthless. Useless. Stupid.’

Picking up my cup of coffee, I hear Harry talking to me. I turn around as my coffee swishes around in my mug with a dull slush only to see him smirking at me. It’s been every day since I came to this new job in the city. They told me to start over, that I had no future back there in the country. But this is worse – I complain to the manager every day but there is always some sort of excuse. I feel his cold gaze upon me as the other ones start as well. ‘What is he doing?’, they whisper, mocking my every move, ‘No wonder no one likes him. He’s a real idiot. Why does he try to be someone because he knows he’s pointless?’ I can’t see them though. At least they have the respect to talk when I can’t see them. But Harry… he doesn’t care. Every time I come into the office I see his gleaming face staring at me, scorning me, with ‘Morning fool’ or, ‘Get any sleep dunce?’ It makes me angrier than upset because I want to give him the pain he gives me every day. I’m still staring at him while I test my coffee – it’s too hot, but the other voices pipe in again, ‘Trying your coffee? It’s been poisoned – Harry put something in it.’ ‘Why’d you tell him? We’d be better off without him, the futile guy.’ I swivel around slowly, catching everyone’s gaze at me. The chatter of the breakroom is defining – it’s their freedom from the deskwork they comply to. They’re all against me. Especially Jenny – she walks over to me and puts her hand on my shoulder. It feels cold as if she’s trying to push me down. She says something but I can’t hear it through the other voices. All I hear is the whispers of people I don’t see, ‘Look! Don’t reply… She hates you… Don’t reply… She’s trying to hurt you… Don’t reply…’ So, I reel back, spilling half of my coffee over my tie (I’m never going to wash it anyway). Pacing backwards, I collide with the receptionist who stumbles and then stares at me. I can’t quite make out what she is trying to be but they, the voices, tell me it’s menace. She smiles a grin of threat and saunters away to the manager’s office talking to him while pointing her finger at me in a subtle way but I see her. I see their glances and murmurs. Then Harry says it.

He finally tells me, ‘You need to hurt them…

They’ll get you… You’re useless anyway…

They’ll get you… What’re you waiting for?’

It’s the final time. I start to see blurry and everything looks so dark and red, almost like a rose with sick irony. Stumbling forward I grab Harry and punch him several times. I hear the smash of glass and someone screaming but it’s music to my ears. ‘Let them scream… Show them your pain…’ whisper the other voices. I stagger around looking for them wielding a shard of glass. I start towards Jenny before I feel my knees crack and I fall… further…

It’s over… I’m dead. I see their shade of freedom around me – absolutely nothing.

I try to move my arms to explore my new surroundings but I feel a tug on something.

My left arm is tied onto a piece of rope and it’s in a sling. That’s where the sudden pain is coming from. It spreads and I hear someone behind me. ‘You’ve had a fall at the office and you’ve caused a bit of disruption,’ he says, ‘It’s not your fault. Your mother and brother are here and I’ve told them both.’

NATURAL HISTORY Dead whale in the middle of the room.

But we don’t see it like that.

The thousands of once dead, Now fleshless framed and posing.

Don’t care about animal rights I had fish and chips last night But this strikes me as strange how many died for this vast range?

‘What?’

‘It’s called schizophrenia. It’s just something which you have that causes you to have episodes where you can’t control your body. We can control it but we need you to help us.’

‘Where’s Harry?’

‘Who?’ ‘The person who deteriorated me. Every day he spoke to me, killing me inside. I hated him so much and attacked him.

Where is he?’

‘Harry was inside your head. You attacked one of the photos of a co-worker’s children.

The worker is visibly distraught but we have consoled him. We can bring him in if you want?’

‘No – you’re lying to me. I know what I saw.

He whispered to me with the rest of them.’

‘The rest?’

‘Yes, there were more.’

Gawping at intricate Details (yet it still looks Like a toenail) little legs And little minds gaze in wonder Imagining.

‘The largest animal to have ever Lived feeds on one of the smallest.’

I remembered that for ten years.

And here I see same words Saying the same thing about A pterodactyl’s wing, and a scorpion Sting, sip from the bottle you Bring to avoid paying three pounds For water.

The dinosaur is smaller than I Thought it was, and I can see That the snake is clearly fake This time I won’t have a milkshake Mum, I’ll have a coffee.

ALEXANDER COHEN, U6

‘I think you’ll find that you are a bit better now. I’m just going to speak with your mother now about the formalities.’

I said nothing and waited until he left, hearing the door close with a creak behind me. Then it happens – I hear Harry.

‘Miss me?’

AKSHI KUMAR, Y11

TWO POEMS 16th January 2018 Staggering between the rope and the semi-colon, A human life nearly killed by one callous remark – Trying to survive in a hostile world…

A candle can flicker O so brightly, But the darkness is still there Closing In. The Dark World As if a switch is being pressed Suddenly transported To the dark world Unable to function Unable to keep going Head-locked in from all sides Thankfully, a light appears And is if it never happened She smiles again as usual But the mental scarring is still there And the dark world barking, barking, barking

JOSHUA GOTTLIEB, U6

Skylark 2017/18 ~ 43

ORIGINALS - ART

Skylark provides an opportunity for the Art Department to showcase the impressive amount of work that its students have produced in the 2017/18 academic year. This year we see the work produced by the GCSE and A Level students as well as drawings from the annual Inter-House Drawing competition for Year 7-9.

The 2018 Art Exhibition displayed the diverse range of creative talent from students at GCSE to A Level and is a spectacular culmination of all of their hard work throughout the year.

In addition to this, we also say goodbye to one of our longest-serving art teachers – Miss Bird – and wish her well for her future.

KARAN VADGAMA, U6 AND THOMAS CHENG, L6

IN THIS SECTION Inter-House Drawing Competition Coursework

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ORIGINALS - ART

INTER-HOUSE DRAWING COMPETITION The annual Inter-House Drawing competition for Years 7-9 was held during the autumn term in November.

Teams of four were assembled by Housemasters for each of the year groups involved and the pupils were encouraged to spend at least four lunchtime sessions in the Art Department to complete their drawings.

Various groups of natural and man-made objects were placed in the different studios and pupils could choose between shells & skulls, plants, and mugs & beakers. Once their decision was made they were to create a drawing in pencil on A4 paper, which was to take between two and three hours.

Mistry (8M), Gianpaolo Ruju (9S1) and Charles Dray (10C1).

Strouts won the competition overall, based on drawings from all the year groups together.

S TODHUNTER

The level of interest and focus shown by the boys was remarkable and gradually, over the two-week period of the competition, a very impressive range of drawings emerged. There were individual winners from each of the six Houses as well as three overall winners: Harry

COURSEWORK

Osita Olisa (L6H1)

Louis Nobileau (L6C2)

Ayshvaan Thevarajah (L6J1) Skylark 2017/18 ~ 45

ORIGINALS - ART

Elon Julius (L6J2)

Domenico Mastrangelo (OH 2017)

Ayshvaan Thevarajah (L6J1)

Josh Warner (L6C2)

Domenico Mastrangelo (OH 2017)

Benjamin Epstein (L6C2)

Nikhil Patel (L6H1)

Kunle Sokoya (L6H1)

Karan Vadgama (U6S2)

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ORIGINALS - ART

Eric Wang (OH 2017)

Eric Wang (OH 2017)

Benedict Zombory-Moldovan (U6M1)

Hubert Bialek (L6C2)

Hubert Bialek (L6C2) Felix Cheng (L6C2)

Jared Richard (L6M2)

Josh Warner (L6C2)

Ayshvaan Thevarajah (L6J1) Skylark 2017/18 ~ 47

ORIGINALS - ART

Louis Nobileau (L6C2)

Solomon Sperber (U6J2)

Solomon Sperber (U6J2)

Richard Zhong (L6M1)

Louis Nobileau (L6C2)

Benedict Zombory-Moldovan (U6M1)

Louis Seal (L6H1)

Karan Vadgama (U6S2)

Nikhil Patel (L6H1)

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ORIGINALS - ART

Richard Zhong (L6M1)

Nathan Kaye (L6M1)

Osita Olisa (L6H1)

Jared Richard (L6M2)

Rishi Shah (L6M2)

Rishi Shah (L6M2)

Sameer Barakat (L6M2)

Sam Pathmanathan (L6J1) Skylark 2017/18 ~ 49

FEATURES

In this section, we bid farewell to many important characters who leave us this year. With a personal interview between Skylark’s Senior Editors and Mr Hamilton, we reflect upon our outgoing Headmaster’s fondest memories, greatest challenges and his ambitions for the future. Mr Hamilton has served the School formidably since 2002, and we thank him for his work and for his candid thoughts on his time at Habs.

Alongside this interview, there are personal accounts from friends of many other long-serving leavers, who have a combined total of over 150 years of experience at this marvellous place, all of whom may physically leave the School but remain firmly in the minds of all the boys and staff who knew them.

OLIVER RUSSELL, L6, ARON ROSENTHAL, L6 AND SENTHUR SHANMUGARASA, L6

IN THIS SECTION Campus Developments 51 The Support Staff 53 The Duke of Edinburgh’s Award 57 Interview with Mr Hamilton 58 Staff Leavers 60

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FEATURES

CAMPUS DEVELOPMENTS The Estates Department has had many projects going on in the past year, in addition to the usual daily tasks to complete. Some images and brief summaries are displayed on this spread.

Grounds In the Grounds Department over the last year we have had a number of small projects to look after.

Firstly, a new post and rail fence has been erected by the moats near the main entrance on Butterfly Lane.

We have had a new electronic scoreboard for the main cricket square, which has helped the cricket teams no end and can be seen from the Pavilion.

Music Classrooms

Then we have just finished the new non-turf outdoor cricket nets, which has given us a four-lane fully-enclosed practice facility.

J LEWIS GROUNDS MANAGER

Bag Racks and Slab Paved Walkway A superb set of bag racks were installed in October 2017 to assist with easing the huge piles of bags especially during break, lunch and in the exam season.

It has eased congestion in the School massively, along with the new slab paved walkway outside the Aske to assist with the high level of foot traffic.

The three Music classrooms have also been refurbished, being completely stripped and having fresh technology installed. They have been completed one by one over the last year and now they all have new computers, keyboards, projectors and systems that allow the teacher to listen to any individual’s keyboard at the touch of a button. These improved facilities have made a huge difference to current music students’ studies by enhancing what they can do in the classroom alone!

Project Filius The Prep School has now been fully refurbished and extended, and is ready for use after ongoing works for several years. The completed building is a wonderful sight and well worth a visit, with so many hidden features and improvements to the existing structure.

Skylark 2017/18 ~ 51

FEATURES

Prep School Coat of Arms The refurbishment of the Prep School brought with it a refreshed coat of arms. Removing it and hanging it back up became a major part of the works.

It had been fixed above the central external door of the Prep School, recessed in the entrance and not very visible. With the refurbishment and the extension of the building, that entrance would form part of the boys’ changing room. It was decided to remove the coat of arms and place it into storage. The only problem was that nobody could confirm how or where the emblem was fixed. The contractor even removed walls at the rear of the coat of arms and still could not understand how, in 1983, they had fixed this emblem. The caretakers stepped

in and cut the external fixing and in effect the emblem was now doomed to being stored out of sight. The condition of the coat of arms was poor and the years of being in its original location had not been kind to it. The school was fortunate to secure the services of Saena Ku, who was responsible for the refurbishment of the Royal Barge that was used during the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee in 2012. It was necessary to completely strip all of the paintwork and weld the new fixing points. The coat of arms has now been truly brought back to life and is now mounted in the Prep School Hall.

Donated Furniture

Sixth Form Common Room The refurbishment of the Sixth Form Common Room was sponsored by Chartwells Independent and completed last summer. Chartwells procured the professional assistance of an interior designer that could make the best use of the space available. The designer hit the spot and provided the atmosphere deemed necessary to enhance this very important area of the School. The Sixth Form has made huge use of it and is evidently extremely appreciative of the investment in such a core part of Sixth Form life! It has become an even better additional place for study.

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The Court Room now has a wonderful conference table and chairs that were kindly donated by one of the School’s Governors. The only thing the School had to do was collect the furniture from Blandford Forum in Dorset. It was possibly the hottest day of the year in the summer of 2017 when the Head Porter and I set off for Dorset on Saturday morning. The hire vehicle not being fitted with air conditioning and being stuck in a traffic jam on the M27 along with all those families heading for the coast did add to the occasion! Arriving slightly later than anticipated we drove onto the driveway of the most wonderful farmhouses situated in outstanding countryside.

Met by the Governor and provided with refreshments, we then began the task of dismantling the very large table. When that job was complete, it was a matter of loading the table and chairs into the vehicle in readiness for the trip back to Hertfordshire. We returned to Habs by the early evening and assembled the newly donated conference furniture in

the Court Room, where it has been for the last year. This kind donation has enhanced the Court Room and makes it an even more impressive venue for those smaller meetings with guests and between student and staff groups.

Innovation Labs The two new Science classrooms (formerly S13 and S27) in Chemistry and Biology were completed and officially opened by the Headmaster on 2 July 2018. Their construction involved the removal of the block walls and substituting it for glass partitions, which now allows all experiments to be viewed from the corridors. The work commenced in May 2018 and that in itself was interesting due to the School being in full operation whilst major works were being undertaken.

FEATURES

Staff Common Room

The refurbishment of the English and T&P classrooms and the installation of an electronic door access system throughout the site will be amongst many changes students and staff have to look forward to upon their return in the new school year.

The long overdue refurbishment of the Staff Common Room took place last summer, and the Committee was invited to be involved in its design.

This updated warm and inviting venue has been extremely well received by the staff, becoming the focal point for staff collaboration or simply some downtime with a coffee. The furniture, layout, flooring, drinks area and pigeonholes have all been replaced and this investment in the staff and an appropriate place for relaxation will last for a very long time.

R HAMZAT ESTATES MANAGER

THE SUPPORT STAFF The role of support staff across the independent sector has grown in the past two decades; no longer regarded as peripheral support to educational outcomes, it is now widely accepted that schools could simply not function without this new breed of educational professionals, many of whom have made the transition outside the R from HAMZAT education sector and bring with them ESTATES MANAGER invaluable experience and skills honed in commercial organisations and the public sector. In most large independent schools almost half of the staff will be support staff and while there remains an ‘us’ and ‘them’ divide between the academic and support staff in many other schools, at Habs we are unique in having a truly whole-staff approach to all that we do. The opportunity to train together and for support staff to actively participate in both curricular and cocurricular activities promotes mutual understanding and respect amongst colleagues and ensures the boys are provided with the very best support in and outside the classroom. From maintaining first-class playing fields, an

outstanding admissions process through to excellent resources, support staff are an integral part of the school community, providing the services and facilities that help the School to deliver its objectives.

Many of the roles support staff fill will be familiar to the reader and this short piece is an opportunity to acknowledge the invaluable contribution the support staff make to the life of Habs as well as, perhaps, to reveal things that you may not know. For example, the term ‘support staff’ was introduced at Habs in 2010 following a review of support staff contracts and employment. The term ‘non-teaching staff’, widely used in many other schools, had been used to describe support staff prior to this but it was felt by all at the time to have negative connotations and not be reflective of the role and functions filled. As a consequence, the ‘non-teaching’ part was replaced by ‘support’.

Support staff are a mix of those who work term-time only, term-time plus a number of weeks or those who work throughout the year. For each of

these categories staff may be either part-time, working less than 37 and a half hours per week, or full-time.

Support staff may be embedded within academic departments, such as science technicians, language assistants and Art, DT or Music assistants, or provide wholeschool support functions like finance and ICT or specific outputs, like admissions, The Foundation and CCF. Support staff are also assistant form tutors, climbing instructors, sports coaches and master bakers!

Aldenham House is the main hub of support staff activities, accommodating bursary, finance, HR, transport, Foundation, medical and School Office functions. But did you also know it is where the archivist may be found?

Support functions can be found in nearly every building and on every floor, but what do they get up to? Here, in their own words, is a selection of the type of things that the support staff do on a typical day.

S WILSON BURSAR

Tough Mudder A team of predominantly support staff colleagues have banded together to take on a Tough Mudder to raise funds for The Brain Tumour Charity. Training every Tuesday after school they will be running five miles through 13 muddy obstacles on 8 July 2018. To date they have raised over £700 but would welcome further donations at www.justgiving.com/fundraising/rachel-caterer-toughmudder in order to reach their target of £1,000.

R CATERER TRANSPORT MANAGER AND HEAD OF SCS

Skylark 2017/18 ~ 53

FEATURES

Operation Bee Sting Mr Rash Patel and his beekeeping skills were called into action when a swarm of bees appeared on the fence of one of the AstroTurf pitches, which contained roughly 200 to 300 bees. He safely moved them into the woods behind and here we have shared some images of what was involved. It just goes to show what a wide variety of tasks the support staff are faced with and how well they are dealt with every time! Thanks to Rash and many others, the area was in use again shortly after.

RISHI-NAYAN VARODARIA, U6

A Day in the Life of… …A Caretaker on Deputation Day After checking all the halls are ready, we set out the round tables in the Old Refectory in time for the breakfast arrival as well as the other halls for the usual assemblies, kicking off what is generally a hectic day! Each member of the team is posted in various locations, such as the Coach Park or the North Drive to manage the Pre-Prep shuttle bus. Then begins the slightly disheartening job of undoing what we set out, resetting the Old Refectory once the guests have feasted, removing the tables and rearranging the coat rails. Checking the defect sheet is vital, and we must ensure any urgent maintenance requests are dealt with as soon as possible. These could cover any number of things, and often require assigning the right person of the team to specific jobs. Setting out and putting away the new bleachers in the Bourne and Aske Halls is required quite often, according to room bookings and what adjustments are asked for.

To catch issues early on, we scour the carpet and corridors, searching for loose fittings, damage and more.

We then settle down for lunch and a well-earned rest for all, after so many other jobs on top of the daily duties. The maintenance jobs carry on, especially at the Prep School, making sure the refit continues smoothly with

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little delay. The minibuses get refuelled, halls prepared for the next day and we then head off to our stations once more for the end of the day. Once the last few coaches have left the School, the evening work begins, be it managing the car parks for evening events, gritting the grounds or securing the site… It’s the variety of jobs, the fantastic teamwork and the cooperation between departments that makes our job so exciting. Every day is different!

R TANSEY SENIOR CARETAKER

…The Transport Manager I start the day in style being chauffeurdriven in on board one of our resplendent coaches. My faithful driver, Barry, has carefully stowed my bike away so that I am free to cycle home.

If only someone would have the stop moved from the top of the hill to the bottom where my house is; that sevenminute walk is so bothersome!

I arrive at Reception and collect my post. Today that includes a thank you card and chocolates from a parent who wishes to express her gratitude for the help I have given her with sorting her son’s coach arrangements. I’m pleased to say I have no idea who she is as I

treat everyone the same; I just don’t get chocolates from them all!

Next off to form time with the amazing young men of 7R. Today there is great excitement as the card they have been working on for the catering staff to thank them for their dedication and hard work is completed. I’m so proud of ‘my boys’ who came up with this idea. Next, we work with them on their PHSCEE booklets to prompt a discussion about healthy eating and how to follow recipes independently.

FEATURES

Mr Teague sets them the task of making meals from scratch over the summer half term and sending us photos of their creations. If only we weren’t in a science lab – we might get to taste a few of their dishes! We will have to have an end-of-term picnic as several of 7R definitely have culinary leanings.

Back to the Transport Office to work through emails and voicemail messages.

These include complaints about the Stanmore coach leaving the stop a few minutes early, an older boy swearing in front of Junior School girls and numerous requests and enquiries from new starters to join the coach service in September. I start investigations, send holding emails, return phone calls and acknowledge and collate some application forms.

I have a mid-morning visit from a colleague to go over what is involved in running School and Community Service as my time in the role ends this July. I also get a visit from a couple of boys looking to move to it from CCF at the end of year. We discuss their SCS options and the procedure they need to follow.

Lunchtime includes discussions with my colleague about how we can promote Triathlon at the Schools in the coming year and how best to involve the British Triathlon Federation, local Triathlon clubs and event organisers. It is great to feel that Triathlon is becoming part of the sporting offering here at Habs.

Now back to the Office to work through emails and voicemail messages whilst compiling the documentation required for the Coach Steward Training taking place at the end of the day. This is the first opportunity I get to congratulate them on their appointment, set out my expectations and ensure they are trained in Prevent, Safeguarding and how best to deal with the misbehaviour (obviously very rare!) on the coaches.

I then go across to the Aske Hall to set up for the training. Boys arrive, have refreshments and then the interactive training session begins. There is some great engagement from the boys and fantastic support from Mr Oliver, Coach Master at the Girls’ School. We end the session by presenting each new Coach Steward with their badge of office.

We dismiss the boys in good time (of course) for the 5:30pm coaches.

I don my lycra, helmet and sunnies for a lovely 10-mile cycle home. Life is good; life is Habs!

R CATERER TRANSPORT MANAGER AND HEAD OF SCS

…A Member of ICT Support

…A Member of HR

A typical day always starts with checking help desk calls and emails.

Then we move on to room checks. This is making sure that classrooms and machines are up and running before the day begins.

Mornings are very busy in HR as everyone uses this time to catch up with us on various personnel or payroll matters. After responding to all internal queries, we move on to the never-ending recruitment process: preparing job descriptions; placing adverts; dealing with current vacancies and candidates and preparing interview days and all paperwork for new appointments. Another daily job is keeping up-to-date with the Single Central Register, ensuring all checks are processed for every employee, contractor, volunteer and visitor. We also assist Mrs Meighan with payroll and pension-related issues, as well as looking after the e-days database. Our door is always open for any employeerelated issues, or just for a chat, unless we are in the middle of our chair yoga session!

We then set up and support all the assemblies that take place around the various halls. After assemblies, we start the task of clearing help desk calls, as well as rebuilding faulty machines, sorting out audio, projector or PC problems in classrooms, supporting lessons and setting up for various talks, meetings and exams. In between this the audio visual (AV) team carry out the filming of lessons and talks as well as any video and audio editing jobs that need to be done.

We also book out any cameras, phones, laptops and AV equipment for use by students and teachers for various events and teaching.

Finally, we assist and set up any evening internal or external bookings. ICT staff are often here well before the school day starts and long after it has finished, but there is an enormous commitment and sense of pride in all that we do to support the boys and staff.

R WILLIAMS AND A GHIOC HUMAN RESOURCES OFFICERS

R PATEL ICT SERVICES MANAGER

…A Member of the Grounds Department Our day starts at 7:00am; the team have all been allocated jobs to do from our Monday morning team meeting and from our works board for any extra work that needs to be carried out.

We also have a fixtures board, so we know what games are being played on any day of the week. This enables us to have the pitches ready for the games as required.

The gardeners have their work sheets and go around the campus and gardens to ensure they are looking the very best they can be and our Estates Cleaner is constantly making sure the campus is kept tidy, so is picking up all the litter and weeding the kerb lines.

Summary Beyond and prior to school life, support staff have many interests and stories to tell as the photo montage shows. As the Boys’ School support staff are restructured to provide unified operational and support functions across both schools, the challenge for the future will be to continue to attract high calibre staff to the support roles and ensure that across both schools, we are configured and motivated to continue to deliver and contribute to the outstanding outputs that are the hallmark of Habs.

S WILSON BURSAR

We also call at the Pre-Prep School on a Wednesday to tend to their grounds area.

J LEWIS GROUNDS MANAGER

Skylark 2017/18 ~ 55

FEATURES

Did You Know?

‘I worked on five different ships, visiting most of Europe, the Caribbean, Bora Bora for a day, New Zealand, Alaska and Australia and a big part of my job was to marry couples and also to renew their vows!’

MISS JULIE-ANNE SLADE SCHOOL SECRETARY

‘I am the County Treasurer for the charity Hearing Dogs for Deaf People and will retire as Head Warden of Radlett Reform Synagogue later this year.’

DR JACK ALVAREZ EXAMINATIONS ANALYST

‘I enjoy doing encaustic art which is using coloured waxes, an iron and other attachments to move the wax around making different colours and pictures.’

MR RICHARD MUSSETT GROUNDSMAN

‘Barry and I achieved the ‘Gridiron 100’ (just!) back in 2015 which involved 60 miles of cycling through the New Forest (and another 10 miles to and from our B&B)!’

MRS JULIE REGELOUS FACILITIES ASSISTANT AND MR BARRY REGELOUS ICT SUPPORT AUDIO VISUAL TECHNICIAN ‘Continually looking to push myself outside my comfort zone and raise money for charity I completed a tandem skydive for Mind, the charity that works to ensure that no one has to face a mental health problem alone.’

MS RACHEL CATERER TRANSPORT MANAGER AND HEAD OF SCS ‘I’m in two bands: Fishing for Robots (dark 80’s) and Shot 2 Funk (old school disco). I’m in the blond wig playing the guitar!’

MR BARRY REGELOUS ICT SUPPORT AUDIO VISUAL TECHNICIAN

‘I worked in the film industry for 30 years as Head of Engineering for Warner Bros.

Studios – my last films were the Harry Potter series and as I was part of the team I have a ‘wand’ in the Harry Potter Studios in Watford. The picture shows two of my sons with the wand box!

I have been sitting as a magistrate on Adult, Family, and Youth Courts, the Crown Court, and Out of Hours Warrant Applications for the last five years.

I have been involved with the Hosanna House and Children’s Pilgrimage Trust (HCPT) for over 50 years. We take over 1,000 disabled and disadvantage children and young people in family groups on holiday to Lourdes in France over Easter which gives their parents a respite and the young people a great week – being treated as VIPs.’

MR GERRY TEAGUE ICT SUPPORT INFRASTRUCTURE ENGINEER

‘I was awarded Member of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (MBE) in 2016.’

MR MICHAEL LEWIS DEPUTY BURSAR Every year I travel to Glasgow in June to play in a mixed team basketball tournament. It consists of seven games over one and a half days with teams from all over Europe participating; it’s a great way to make friends!

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MRS ALINA GHIOC HUMAN RESOURCES OFFICER

‘I have been a beekeeper for over 10 years, harvesting honey and keeping our wonderful planet pollinated.’

MR RASH PATEL ICT SERVICES MANAGER

FEATURES

THE DUKE OF EDINBURGH’S AWARD Participating in the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award (DofE Award) over the last three and a half years has been one of our most defining experiences, both at Habs and beyond. Each of the five sections – Physical, Skills, Volunteering, Residential (for Gold), and Expedition – of the DofE Award brought its own challenges and rewards, and all have changed us for the better.

As someone who’s never really been particularly interested in sport, finding an activity for my Physical was initially a challenge, but after being introduced to judo during an Adventurous Training session, I decided to give it a go. As well as becoming great friends with everyone at my club, I’ve had the chance to participate in tournaments (something I never saw myself doing) and have achieved a green belt. Whilst I am still not the best, going to the sessions every Friday night is now almost therapeutic. Without the push of my DofE Award, I would never have considered doing a martial art but, because of it, Max and I have been attending weekly classes together for the last three years.

The Skills section was the only one where Max and I had any prior activity before the DofE Award, and as we easily surpassed the one hour a week time requirement for playing our musical instruments, we did not need to find something new. However, it still gave us something to work towards after we finished our grades without needing to commit to a diploma.

Max and I had never really volunteered before, and for each level of the award we volunteered at a different place; initially at our local library, then at a charity shop and finally at our judo club to help teach the juniors. Out of the different DofE sections, Volunteering put us most out of our comfort zone, but for that reason it was the most fulfilling. We did not expect to spend our summer holiday of Year 10 listening to young children reading or talking about their favourite books but having been one of those young children at the same library myself a decade earlier, it was a fantastic opportunity to give back to our community, whilst having fun with the other volunteers.

Our six months at a Cancer Research UK shop was also great fun, especially once we had turned 16 and were able to work the till, so we could stop sorting through donations and changing the displays. We met all sorts of people during our time there and had a great time dressing up and raising awareness for their Stand Up To Cancer campaign.

Spending a year at our judo club running sessions for the younger kids was probably my favourite of the places we volunteered at, not least because watching them fight was hilarious.

For our Gold Award, we also had to participate in a fiveday residential trip, and in preparation for university we went to a cookery course in Yorkshire. There, with the dozen others, we shared our best DofE experiences, from people arriving at their campsites in the early hours to forgetting fuel for their stoves. As we all had DofE experiences in common, we became better friends than our cooking could ever be!

Of course, the highlight for many (and the nightmare for others) are the DofE expeditions; two for each level of the award.

We both had the same basic training for the expeditions, even though I was part of Outdoor Leadership (OL) and Max was part of the CCF Army Section. Max had already been to Okehampton Army Base (where we did our practice expeditions) while we had done our own expeditions in Wales. Despite our different Friday activities, everyone in our group knew what we were doing (at least we thought we did – at every expedition we laughed at the mistakes we had made in the last).

The expeditions also neatly summarise what the DofE Award is all about – trying something new – and I would never have thought that I would enjoy walking in the Brecon Beacons in the wind and rain, but I loved it! Having an expedition in the first week of every Easter holiday, before GCSEs and AS Levels, might not seem like the best timing, but it brought about a sense of calm and entertainment before the work for exams really took off, and this year there was certainly an expeditionsized hole in the holiday.

The expeditions, especially the more challenging Gold ones, are among my favourite trips from my time at Habs: the camaraderie from everyone in our group, sticking together through the highs and lows, really made the expeditions so great. From being saved from cows by Dr Wigley’s clapping, to the ‘cancerole’ we made from all our leftovers on the last day of our Gold

expedition or laughing at the Year 10s who had brought enough food and clothes for well over a week for a one-night expedition to raging at one boy’s refusal to take any breaks for the entirety of both our Silver expeditions (only for me to act like him myself during the Gold expeditions), we all have great memories of our expeditions that will remain for several years to come.

Many people already do activities that qualify for several sections of the DofE Award before registering, so it is not as challenging as it might first seem, but it is certainly rewarding. We would recommend that everyone attempts the DofE Award, up to at least the Silver level, as Bronze does not really put you out of your comfort zone and let you experience the best it has to offer. Most importantly though, the DofE Award is only as good as you make it; if you find the right activities for yourself, and put that little extra effort in, it makes a world of a difference.

HENRY COLBERT, U6 AND MAX COLBERT, U6

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INTERVIEW WITH MR HAMILTON On 30 January 2018, Rishi-Nayan Varodaria, Solomon Sperber, Abhiram Bibekar, Aditya Dabral, Lewis Forman and Mrs O’Hare interviewed Mr Hamilton upon the news of his well-deserved retirement.

What’s the biggest challenge you’ve had to overcome?

What you won’t know is what goes on behind the scenes – you might think that all I do is wander about the School sometimes and go to assemblies and What will you miss most about Habs? that’s about it, but actually this School is a multimillion pound business with There are too many things to list, but I’ll all the complexities that go with any tell you what I really, really will miss, and multimillion pound business. We have to this will make you laugh actually – but manage many subsections: the students, it’s the pupils here: you, the boys. Maybe the teachers, the parents, the support not individually, but collectively, because staff, the outside world, the neighbours, you are bright and you Haberdashers’ Hall and know that, but I have so on – so there’s a lot “I FEEL A LOT LIKE had so many intriguing on there. I think the CAPTAIN KIRK ON going conversations and biggest of all challenges learned so much from the THE STARSHIP is getting all of those to hundreds of pupils that work in synchronicity. You ENTERPRISE” have gone through this have to deal with over School – and yes, I don’t 3,000 people, so I’m not teach a lot, but I teach enough, I’m in and exactly Richard Branson at Virgin, but out of the classroom and some of those it’s still a massive job. There will always general studies lessons are absolutely be naysayers: they just say no because super – so yes, it’s the pupil interaction they like saying no. Then there are going that I’ll miss the most, and this is a very to be the snipers, and then there are special place for that. those who are so enthusiastic that it’s unhelpful because they lose their sense What has been the biggest change of balance, so bringing all those moving you’ve seen as Headmaster? parts together on a daily basis has really It would be very easy to just say been the biggest challenge. buildings – but that’s not the biggest Do you have any advice for the change. Facilities are one thing, yes, incoming Headmaster? they’re important and so on, but the most important change I’ve seen is a There will be things that one has not cultural change. It is once more that shift done and finished and it makes sense from people thinking that this is just a for the next person to carry on with that, place where you come and do your hours but this is all about stewardship – and to actually really wanting to make a it’s all about sticking to your values – not serious difference to the minds of those necessarily the ones on the roundel – but you interact with on a daily basis – not making sure that we’re on a journey of to say that it was not like this before, but discovery together, making sure that the in my time we’ve really managed to put pupils are challenged and making sure right to the front and centre the needs of we are as caring and understanding as the individual boys here – because if we we can be towards each other. That’s get what you want right, then it will be something that needs to be held onto easier for staff to work with you. So, for for the future. Buildings are buildings – me, it’s a cultural change. We just need there are great projects in development everyone to appreciate that without you, but they will never be the be all and the boys, there is no School. end all. We need to first make sure that we attract the best and the brightest Is there any particular change you are teachers to teach here so students look proud of? back and value their time here. Holding What have I changed? I don’t think I’ve on to those simple core values is the changed a lot – I think I’ve shone a light important thing for the next Headmaster. on certain things, but I don’t think I’ve Our garden is well-tended at the moment fundamentally changed anything at all. I – keep the good stuff there and weed introduced Arabic – it’s not a big change, out the bad. but it’s just about changing little things Could you tell us a little bit about what like that, as long as it’s best for the boys. you’re planning to do when you leave?

We know here that we’re strong enough to get our results, it’s just about making I’m going to get fit again, because, the experience as great as possible for believe it or not, I was once. I used to the boys. That’s been my most proud do loads and loads. I’m going to walk change: moving to the front and centre my dogs, and we’ve got some horses to what’s best for the boys.

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ride. I’ll also definitely go into greater detail with my love affair with Arabic and with the Gulf, the Middle East and Africa.

Whether that’s work or play, it doesn’t matter – I’m going to do it. Obviously, I’m a linguist and I’ve promised myself that I’m going to learn Russian from scratch, and what an excuse to travel around Russia and experience Russian culture. Those two things will keep me quite busy, and of course, I’ll listen and watch from afar; I shall of course be very curious as to what happens here when I’m gone.

Going back to the past, what are your first memories of Habs?

It was horrendous! It was seeing the 1st XV being slewn 90-0 against Bedford School. We don’t play them anymore, but it was painful for me to behold, and painful for the players on the pitch. I remember thinking just how shabby the Maths Block was – you might think it needs some TLC now, but back then, it really did. The site was of course very nice, but those were the two main things that struck me at the time.

What have been your favourite trips?

The recent Model United Nations trip to Paris was really, really good, and whilst I don’t necessarily go with them, I do play a part in organising every single trip that occurs, and due to modern health and safety, all forms of trips are under threat, so it’s important we cherish all of them.

As far as trips are concerned, there’s no one memorable thing, but the New York and Sri Lanka trips are excellent, and even the Geography trips to Watford. I love all of the co-curricular trips; they don’t have to be in exotic places. They’re a lot of work, especially if someone breaks something, but it’s so important to me that we do them, especially the language exchanges, which are rare nowadays, but I hope that they continue.

How has being at Habs shaped you?

I’ve absolutely loved it. It’s horses for courses – this place suits my character, and I love the feisty North London vibe we have going on. It has suited me right down to the ground, and that’s the issue when you change heads in schools – you can be a brilliant head of a boarding school but might find that something like this isn’t as appropriate. It’s probably made me worse, in a funny way, but it’s made me at times more patient, or less impatient. I certainly don’t suffer fools gladly, and it’s made me more humble – seeing the ability of the boys is humbling. They’re bright beyond belief.

It’s a privilege to have taught them

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and been a part of their education. It’s experience, which is why there will be probably made me a bit more grumpy school productions, which in the real at times, and it’s certainly made me world wouldn’t have been successful – realise that there are more than 10 ways but who cares, because they’re learning. to skin a cat – there’s always a way, So, the answer is that we see more music and if you lose six months chasing the because there are more ensembles, wrong idea, then what’s but I’ve never come that in a 15-year career? away from any event “IT’S ABOUT PEOPLE thinking that I’ve I wouldn’t say it’s made me a disciplinarian – we wasted my time, where WANTING TO BE have to have rules, it’s just I have at other schools.

HERE BECAUSE how life works. It’s made Both of those areas me more understanding; were looked after THEY’RE ON there are a lot of people for a long period of A VOYAGE OF who are connected to time by long-serving this School who have a staff, but in the last DISCOVERY” pretty difficult life, and couple of years that’s sometimes you don’t fully completely changed understand the totality of what people and the style has changed as well and are going through and just get on with we should embrace that. It’s not always your own life, but that empathy is very about recapturing what happened five or important, and the open-mindedness is 10 years ago – it’s about new ideas, and very important.

I enjoy both of them. I also love it when people make mistakes because it means When you were at school, did you see they’re really pushing themselves. yourself teaching?

What are you looking forward to in terms of building developments?

Whatever goes up where the old swimming pool was, as well as the DT Block, planning permission dependent.

We have some really transformational ideas, but again, that’s just buildings, and it’s not all about that. This really is a people business, so we need to be thinking about people rather than buildings, especially the teaching staff.

You can’t expect everything to be perfect all the time, but I hope that you feel that we’ve put the investment in the right place for you, the boys. You have different needs as you go through the School, so finding that balance is quite difficult.

Thank you so much for your time, Mr Hamilton, and we wish you all the very best for the future!

I didn’t at all – all I knew I wanted to do was to study languages: that’s why I’m quite relaxed with students not knowing exactly what they want to do, as long as they have their university subject, the job will come later, and it’s at university that you’ll discover what’s important to you. Finding that passion late is not a big deal: that’s what it was for me. I certainly didn’t think I wanted to be a head; I started as a classroom teacher, but found that if I really wanted to make a difference to people’s lives then being a headteacher was something I needed to pursue – so I did. The trouble, then, is making sure you’re surrounded by really, really good staff to teach where you no longer do. That’s part of the challenge I had to overcome, it’s very different from starting out as a frontline teacher, managing a multimillion pound business.

If I get something wrong, it’s much more impactful than in a classroom; this entire business can fail.

What do you prefer, the school plays or the school concerts?

That’s an unfair question! It’s an interesting question, but I think it depends what you think that the school plays are for – are they supposed to rival the shows of the Shakespeare Company and the West End or are they actually another learning experience whereby everybody involved learns?

I also think the same applies to music – is it supposed to be the best music imaginable or a good learning experience? And, since we’re in a school, I think it’s about the learning

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STAFF LEAVERS field. 41 tries in just two terms in the St Luke’s 1st XV rugby side only tell a very small tale of his sporting career. Alan represented Herts County Cricket 1st XI for three years at the top of the order, having opened the batting for Hertford CC for an astonishing 25 seasons. With over 13,000 runs to his name, it was easy to understand why the school were also keen to recruit his services as a cricket coach and he did so as U13 coach for 15 years. Alan also represented the county 1st XV rugby side, memorably scoring a hat-trick in one of his early games, and he was a mainstay of the county 2nd XV for three seasons. It was perhaps fitting that after 15 years of coaching the same U13 group in rugby, that Alan should find his rightful home as 2nd XV coach, a role he only very recently relinquished after 20 years in charge.

Alan Bagguley The year 1977 marked the Silver Jubilee celebrations, it heralded the arrival of the Ford Fiesta, the release of Star Wars, the death of Elvis Presley, the memorable New York City blackout and it saw Liverpool secure their 10th league title (though they later lost to the mighty Manchester United in the FA Cup Final).

Over at Habs in Elstree, the big news was of the appointment of Alan C Bagguley

by Headmaster Bruce McGowan, to teach Biology and coach cricket and rugby, a signing that in today’s market would surely have breached the £100m mark, acquiring a young and versatile teacher of outstanding quality. In Alan, Habs has enjoyed over 40 years of total commitment, loyalty and the very highest levels of professionalism and his departure for a thoroughly well-deserved retirement, sees the loss of a very wise, humble and talented schoolmaster; one could be forgiven for thinking that our Habs Roundel was conceived with Alan very much in mind.

An Applied Biology graduate from Hatfield (now the University of Hertfordshire), Alan went on to compete his PGCE at St Luke’s College, Exeter.

Whilst Biology may have been his chosen academic route, those who know Alan will be acutely aware of his great love of sport. Such a modest and self-effacing colleague, most are probably unaware of his considerable talents on the sporting

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12 years after his appointment to the School, new Headmaster Keith Dawson saw fit to promote Alan to the role of Meadows Housemaster and, undoubtedly, the area where Alan made his greatest impact in his time at the School. Alan’s blend of dry humour, his fierce competitive instincts and his compassionate and thoughtful demeanour made him an ideal fit for the role. Alan’s organisational skills and time management are second to none and his knowledge of the boys, and perhaps of equal importance, their families, ensured that Alan was an incredibly well respected, popular and successful Head of House. It is perhaps little coincidence that his work yielded a 42% win rate in both the Crossman and Dunton shields (including a record of six consecutive wins) and saw three of his Deputy Housemasters go on to lead their own Houses: I, for one, will always be immensely grateful for the support and guidance I received from Alan, a quite magnificent mentor.

With over a quarter century at the helm of Meadows, Alan’s impact on the pastoral side of school life can still be seen today. The House-coloured ties worn by all boys were a Bagguley initiative and sought to bring about greater House spirit and make boys more easily identifiable. The end of term House videos, such a popular feature of House Assemblies today, were first seen in Meadows House Assemblies, and the House photographs given to parents at social evenings were the brainchild of Alan to help foster a stronger sense of belonging to the House. A true pastoral heavyweight, even since he stepped down as Housemaster, his influence has

remained pivotal to the success of a very healthy House system and we will sorely miss his advice, wisdom and guidance.

After 41 years teaching Biology to the likes of Matt Lucas (OH 1994) and Ben Ashenden (OH 2008), keeping a watchful eye over the Department greenhouse and picking boys off the floor having dissected many an organ, Alan heads into his retirement having made an enormous and lasting contribution to the life of the School.

He will be sorely missed by both pupils and staff, and we are unlikely to see such a highly skilled, hugely supportive and committed colleague offer over four decades of distinguished service to the School ever again. We wish him well in retirement as he develops his golf game, continues to keep very fit (Alan remains fitter than most colleagues 40 years his junior), and further tends to his own botanical gardens of Bricket Wood (they truly are a sight to behold, especially the dahlias).

A SIMM

Peter Barry Thankfully, it is not every year that we find ourselves having to bid farewell to someone of the experience and ability of Dr Peter Barry. After growing up in his native Liverpool, Peter took up a place to read Mathematics at Imperial College London in 1972, where he was to remain for the next seven years before taking up a post with EMI Electronics as a Systems Engineer in the Electronic Warfare Products Group. Two years later and with his PhD thesis duly completed, Peter submitted an impressive application to join Habs and took up his new role in the Mathematics Department in September 1982.

Peter has taught every ability of mathematician at Habs; his calm and level-headed explanations made him popular and respected amongst the boys, and his sporting involvement enabled boys to see him in a different light. Peter quickly found an outlet for his many sporting interests at Habs and was in charge of the Athletics Club for eight years, alongside running cross country runs and fitness sessions for the Rugby Club. Even to this day he can be found at 6:00am every morning, training in the Medburn Centre while most boys are still asleep. Peter and I still have fond memories of emerging victorious in the ‘Staff Superstars’ competition over 25 years ago, when his exploits in

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the gym tests were on a par with Judo star Brian Jacks in the TV version of the competition!

In the Department, Peter has for many years overseen the Year 11 course, also acting as a GCSE examiner. During this time, he has created a huge number of resources for the benefit of the Department, and it was little surprise that when the A Level Mathematics specifications were recently reformed, Peter was working behind the scenes with Ofqual to ensure questions were set at the correct level. In the classroom, generations of boys have been able to benefit from Peter’s experience and good humour whilst improving their mathematical skills; his ability to forge a rapport with any teaching set is a model for those starting out in the profession.

Peter was an early advocate of the use of computers during his time at Imperial and has continued this theme in encouraging Habs boys to use software such as Maple to support their mathematical understanding. He has run enrichment courses in recent years designed to give potential engineering students the best possible start to their undergraduate careers, with many Old Boys returning to the school commenting on just how invaluable those courses proved to be.

In the modern era, it seems incredible to even contemplate working at the same place for 36 years. I can only thank Peter for his service to the Department and the School, and for being a constant source of wisdom and support to boys and staff alike throughout that time. He will be a hard act to follow, but we wish him every happiness for a long and well-earned retirement.

A WARD

Elevated to the role of Senior Tutor for the Sixth Form in 2007, Lynn developed this position herself. First with Phillip Parr and latterly with Keren Pollock, Lynn enjoyed great success here forging strong partnerships and complementing the strengths of her colleagues, including Sue Corbould and Anne Hewitt. Sue and Anne were Lynn’s eyes and ears in the Sixth Form Common Room. They have become loyal and trusted friends. Our Sixth Form took to Lynn immediately and she to them; leading assemblies, liaising with parents and involving herself in all aspects of Sixth Form life and welfare.

It was a natural position for her and she carried out her responsibilities with distinction over her seven-year tenure.

Lynn Bird Lynn and I were appointed in September 1983. She had studied Fine Art at Gloucester College of Art and then at the Slade School of Fine Art, in Theatre Design. Her GCSE year was completed at the Institute of Education. It was clear on meeting Lynn that she was special. She had presence, she was clearly confident, and with her background in dance, her posture was perfect.

In a school which at that time employed only a handful of female teaching staff, Lynn quickly made an impression, both on pupils and staff. She rapidly established herself within the Art Department, having specialist skills in 3D Design and Sculpture. She also became an integral part of the production team for school plays. With her expertise in Theatre Design, Lynn took on responsibility for set painting and the making of props, creating an SCS group which thrived under her guidance and has continued to do so. Lynn has been involved in a staggering number of school productions over the years; 94 in total, developing a close rapport with firstly Stephen Wilkins, and then Tim Norton. Her skill, attention to detail, powers of organisation and patience have all contributed to the enduring success of school drama and its central position in the School’s culture.

Lynn has always been ‘pupil-centred’ and her pastoral work has played a very important part in her career. She has been assigned to three different Houses over the years and has been a tutor to 33 forms, keeping in touch with several former pupils and their families in the process. Five generations of Haberdashers’ pupils have benefitted from her care, kindness and experience.

The autumn term Art trips have been a cherished highlight of the school year for Lynn. She has organised trips to New York, Prague and Istanbul. She has always organised her trips independently, with all the time, effort and paperwork that this entails – to ensure the best experience for our pupils, and the best price for our parents. As a result, many happy memories of shared experiences have been formed for pupils and staff alike over many years. In addition, she took part in 13 trips to St Die with the staff from the French Department.

As the longest-serving female teacher in the School, Lynn has seen more changes than most over the years; in the number of staff employed, the pupil demographic, the gradual balancing of the genders among the staff and the growth of ICT, which was barely present in 1983.

Lynn is an exceptional teacher, blessed with true humanity, admired and respected by pupils and staff alike. She has shown friendship to all staff at the School, whether teaching or support, and many of those friendships will endure.

She has shown tremendous courage and resilience in the face of the challenges that she has been confronted with in recent years, continuing to be cheerful, active and undaunted in her work. Lynn has planned for retirement and will continue to keep herself busy, engaged and involved in her local community in Muswell Hill. We wish her a long, happy and fulfilling retirement.

In conclusion, here is a contribution from one of her former pupils: ‘Miss Bird was a tutor who cared deeply for her students.

The form of education she offered went far beyond the curriculum and focussed instead on values that made a boy a gentleman in the modern era. She taught Skylark 2017/18 ~ 61

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us to be honest even when we got it wrong; humble even if we got it right and to never give up when we thought it couldn’t be done. She was sometimes stern but always fair and was never afraid to tell it as she saw it. She was my tutor for a year but a mentor for life.’

S TODHUNTER

Nick Holmes

he has on others; the true gentleman leaves both the tramp and the Prime Minister feeling uplifted and better. On this measure, Nick scores a ‘*O’ every time; colleagues old and new I am sure will agree that he is nothing less than an absolute tonic. As he leaves us to begin a new life, I would like to thank Nick for making our School a better place, and for making me a better man.

G HALL

If Nick were an inanimate object, without doubt he would be a Swiss Army Knife. Whatever the problem, be it low progress grades, pastoral issues, School on fire or a crisis in the snow, he can always solve it with panache and understated ease.

In the 10 years I have known him, Nick has stood out as a gentleman, a sportsman in the traditional sense of the word and a schoolmaster of the highest order. He epitomises values such as courage, wisdom, integrity and humility, bringing them to life through his interactions with others. Nick could not be more widely or highly respected, probably due to the tens of thousands of hours of time he has patiently invested in many generations of Haberdashers over a career spanning more than 33 years.

As Officer In Charge of the Habs Royal Navy Section of the CCF for over 17 years, Nick has led and supported many an adventurous expedition. Whatever the location or conditions, it is common knowledge that he is impervious to extreme heat or cold, and always up and out by 5:00am making sure that all is well. Less well known is his ability to conjure up the most miraculous staff meals in the wild, such are his mercurial skills in the art of bushcraft.

When Nick agreed to take up the post of Senior Tutor (Middle School), I just couldn’t believe my good fortune.

His tremendous positive energy, wise counsel and frightening level of ability have been a daily inspiration. His tenacity and endurance, regularly putting in a 60hour week before his Saturday morning rugby commitments, have been stunning.

I will always value the two years that Nick was able to spend with me; I am deeply grateful to him.

There are many ways in which one might measure the value and substance of a gentleman. The level of polish on his shoes, for example, is thought by many to be useful barometer; on this measure Nick is unmatched. Perhaps a more substantive measure is the impact that

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Paul Dathan Paul joined the Design & Technology Department from Bishopshalt School in Hillingdon in September 1991, having previously worked in industry for 11 years following graduation from the University of Greenwich.

His experience as a professional toolmaker was to stand him in good stead as he proved to be an exceptional teacher of Design & Technology. The boys have always reacted well to his unique sense of humour and direct approach – Paul’s workshop has always been a hive of activity whenever I have visited – and boys have been privileged to take away valuable practical skills which will last a lifetime.

Staff in the DT Department are often asked by colleagues from other departments to make and repair ‘specific things’ for them and it is no coincidence that Paul tends to be the one most colleagues go to as they know that he will

always make a quality product and it will be produced in the shortest amount of time!

Paul’s interest in many different sports gave him a ready outlet for all kinds of co-curricular pursuits at Habs. We got to know each other on the golf course and were both novices on the Main School ski trip as we joined Andrew Keenleyside and Steve Lane in Les Deux Alpes in 1992.

Paul was an invaluable presence on those trips; it was an education to see how he managed some of the situations which could (and did!) arise over the years. We were even joined by Paul’s family on some of the trips – a natural extension once Paul’s son Ben (OH 2011) was studying at Habs. Paul managed 21 ski trips in all, outlasting me and helping to give many Habs boys lasting memories of great times away with friends.

Paul has been at the heart of the School’s Rugby Club for 25 years coaching U13 and U10 teams and accompanying tours to all parts of the United Kingdom and France, and he has coached Prep football teams as well. As a lifelong Liverpool fan, this passion for the round ball game saw him as one of the mainstays of the Habs Summer Camp running football sessions for children during the first two weeks of the summer holidays. Nowadays, he is more likely to be found following Saracens at the Allianz Stadium, but I know he will follow the progress of the Reds under Herr Klopp. Not content with all of that, Paul also coached U13 cricket teams for 12 years as well.

On the pastoral front, Paul is quite simply a natural. He served as Deputy Housemaster of Joblings for seven years, and has been acting Housemaster of Calverts (twice), Joblings and Strouts in recent years.

I am glad (and rather envious) that Paul plans to play more golf in his retirement, and hope that he will come back and visit the Common Room often, as it will be somewhat quieter and certainly less colourful without him.

A WARD

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Jon’s background as a proud Mancunian ensured an easy fit within the Department with others from the North West already well established. His nononsense teaching style and dry sense of humour helps boys to settle quickly and to make rapid progress. His ability to teach from the youngest age range right up to A Level Further Mathematics and beyond is rare these days, and it is no surprise that he has secured a welldeserved promotion for the next phase of his career.

Jon has also coordinated the entries of thousands of boys into the Maths Challenge and Olympiad events over the years, with a high degree of success.

Jon Barnes When Douglas Whittaker was succeeded as Head of Department by Dr Ian Jacques in September 2000, Jon Barnes joined the Mathematics Department after eight years running his own tutoring agency in Hong Kong. Jon had previously graduated from Warwick University and worked for a spell with the Met Office before embarking on a career in education.

Outside the classroom, Jon initially described himself as a ‘reasonable’ chess player, and a strong backgammon player.

Understatement which we have come to expect! Jon took on the Chess Club at Habs immediately upon joining the School, and the popularity of the game continues to this day, largely due to Jon’s coaching, enthusiasm and knowledge. As the Department gathered for the start of another school year last September and caught up with summer holiday pursuits,

Jon calmly mentioned that he and his partner had won the World Doubles Backgammon title in Monte Carlo!

Jon has also helped with the Games programme at school, as well as taking General Studies lessons and running the School Community Service programme for several years.

We have been fortunate over the years to have such a stable Mathematics Department, and it is because of people like Jon that the Department remains such a happy and friendly place to work. We are genuinely happy that he is being recognised for his ability, whilst at the same time sad that we will lose his expertise and daily camaraderie as he takes up his new post as Head of Mathematics at Alton School in Hampshire. The Maths Department, being what it is however, I know that we will keep in touch.

A WARD

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MUSIC

This year the Music Department has flourished and carved out a unique identity of its own, whilst affirming its status as one of the best in the country.

Looking back at the year, the Guitar, Percussion and Keyboard Concert epitomised the variety that exists within the Music Department; we heard everything from Beyoncé to Bach at this concert. Jazz at Habs has also gone from strength to strength. With the support of the staff, pupils have gained places at the Royal Academy of Music; Habs held its inaugural Jazz Summer School and Jazz at Lunchtime has become a staple in the school calendar.

Another high point was the visit to the Barbican. The performance, which involved over 500 boys, did not disappoint – particular highlights included Habs’ Guitar Orchestra, which set the record for the world’s largest guitar orchestra, and the Prep School’s performance of songs from ‘The Sound of Music’, which was both a visual and musical spectacle. Other memorable moments included an emphatic performance from the Big Band and a polished performance from the Symphony Orchestra.

Being involved in music at Habs over this past year has been extremely exciting, and I look forward to seeing how the department will develop over the next year.

TAMILORE AWOSILE, L6

IN THIS SECTION Habs Jazz Summer School Autumn Concert Junior Concert Jazz at Lunchtime

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65 66 67 67

Strings, Wind & Brass Concert 68 Barbican Gala Concert 69 Royal Academy of Music Junior Jazz Course 69

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HABS JAZZ SUMMER SCHOOL In 2017 we held the inaugural Habs Jazz Summer School, welcoming 35 students from the Boys’ and Girls’ Schools for a week-long course at the end of August.

This was the natural next step for a department that had seen a remarkable surge in enthusiasm for jazz in the last few years.

The course was run by current members of the Habs instrumental staff alongside leading external jazz musicians. Each student was placed in a septet which rehearsed every afternoon throughout the course, ultimately giving a performance in a Seldon Hall packed with family and friends on the last evening. During the week there were also workshops on improvisation, repertoire, individual tuition and instrumental classes given by our tutors. These ran alongside Big Band rehearsals led by Mr Simm, and musicianship classes given by our Director of Music, Mr Osmond.

The students had a packed schedule of sessions designed to hone their skills and had fun exploring the many facets of this exciting and rewarding music.

I

am delighted to report that student progress through the week was utterly astounding. Improvising in public can be a daunting proposition, even for many professional musicians, and I can’t overstate how special it was to see the young musicians perform with such confidence and style on the final evening. This was a testament to the supportive atmosphere created by students and staff throughout the week, as well as the work and commitment shown by all students involved.

The evolution of the Jazz Department here at Habs over the last few years has been quite incredible. To perform ensemble music like this, with improvisation at its core, demands great skill, communication, and teamwork. As the students continue to develop, these qualities have helped to foster a growing community of young musicians who work together to produce jazz music at a near-professional level. We now have three students at the Royal Academy of Music Junior Course for Jazz, more than any other non-specialist music school in the country. This achievement highlights that our school has become a leading institution for education in this field.

Next year, we are excited to be performing our final concert at the Pizza Express Jazz Club in Soho. We are offering two courses split by age and are accepting applications from other schools.

The future of jazz at our school is extremely exciting and the next Habs Jazz Summer School promises to be the perfect celebration of this. More information is available on the school website.

T TAYLOR

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AUTUMN CONCERT 12 October 2017 saw Habs’ annual Autumn Concert. The Bourne Hall bulged with family and friends, particularly those of the new Year 7 cohort to support most of the boys’ first time on stage.

Guitar Orchestra kicked off the evening at near enough 7:00pm with a stellar acoustic performance of the One Republic hit, ‘Counting Stars’, with Miss Galuszka, as always, firmly at the helm. Their performance moved south (geographically not metaphorically) with H Villa-Lobos’ ‘Danza Cubana’, hitting the audience with a strong whiff of Brazil, not to mention the Latin-American and Cuban dance style as its name so fittingly describes.

The choir took us back 400 years or so through a more calming and sensitive performance of Byrd’s ‘Ave Verum’.

Multiple Tierce de Picardie’s and plagal cadences effectively reminded us of the deep religious background of this work.

With Mr Osmond confidently directing, the audience could not have been more absorbed by four-and-a-half minutes of a pure and collected rendition of an absolute masterpiece.

To round off the first half, Mr Simm’s Big Band woke us all up with an uplifting Pat Metheny number, ‘Every Summer Night’, followed by the Big Band Bill Conti classic: Rocky’s ‘Gonna Fly Now’.

A mystical ‘Mouse in the Dairy’ by Kenny Wheeler followed as the final piece of the first half, just to rouse us all for the usual refreshments and mingling in the Bourne foyer.

But there was no rest for the jazz maestro as Concert Band was up next to kick off the second half. Suddenly, we all found ourselves at Hogwart’s School of Witchcraft and Wizardry as the notorious John Williams score to Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone reminded us of all those Sunday afternoons on ITV2.

Concert Band didn’t fail to impress with a magical interpretation of a renowned work of art.

Another exceptional performance ensued with the Habs Young Musician of the Year, Hugo Max (11H1), accompanied by his mother Zoë Max on the piano. We were treated to Movement

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One from Mendelssohn’s Violin Concerto in E minor. There was some extremely expressive playing from mother and son with some incredible solos by Hugo.

This was clearly a performance that had a lot of practice beforehand and it certainly paid off with it being one of the highlights of the evening.

The new Year 7 singers did a fantastic job, firing at us multiple hits of the band with ‘A Bit of Queen’ arranged by our very own Mr Osmond. They definitely stuck by their promise in ‘We Will Rock You’ and absolutely nailed ‘Radio Ga Ga’. The Autumn Concert always acts as a type of ‘Freshman Ceremony’ for the Year 7s and they really did show us what they can do with an amazing amount of energy.

To round off the evening, the Symphony Orchestra saturated the audience with patriotism in a grand performance of Sibelius’ ‘Finlandia’. There was an array of outstanding playing in all sections

of the orchestra, which was particularly commendable for a complex piece that demands a lot from its players. Mr Osmond headed up the performance and kicked his second year off with an impressive, riveting and patriotic bang.

On the whole, the event was a brilliant success and a particular well done to our own Mr Astruc who made an excellent start to his year as Music Assistant, straight out of Sixth Form.

We saw a myriad of commendable and communicative performances from all participants, whether playing or singing, and the concert was great fun to watch as well as to play in. As a player, there was an incredible sense of achievement from a challenging night and it was truly an event to remember. Finally, thank you to everyone who was involved and made the concert a true success.

EJAAZ CADINOUCHE, Y11

MUSIC

JUNIOR CONCERT 16 November 2017 marked our annual Junior Concert. The Seldon Hall, with its familiar white ‘mushrooms’ hanging off the high ceiling, projected the sound of the brass, strings and woodwind across the audience. Throughout the evening, three Year 7 soloists performed as well as the string quartet. Mr Osmond described the soloists as ‘extraordinary’ and ‘phenomenal musicians’.

After a very warm welcome from Mr Osmond, the concert began with our first performers. First to perform on this bitter winter evening was the Junior Guitar Orchestra. They played three beautiful pieces conducted by Habs’ very own guitar guru, Miss Galuszka: ‘Sunny Afternoon’ by The Kinks, ‘Melancolico’ by M Ricciardo and ‘Cops Mundo’ by N Walker. Second to perform was William Heselton (7R1) who played an outstanding saxophone solo. He played ‘Concertino for Alto Saxophone’

by J B Singlee. Our third performance of the evening was a violin solo performed

by Fraser Hauser (7J1). The harmonious sound of the violin filled the hall as Fraser played ‘Meditation from Thais’ by Massenet.

Next to perform was our Junior Big Band directed by Mr Redfern.

The band, consisting of trumpets, saxophones, trombones, the drum kit, piano and double bass played ‘Surfing Sprouts’. The audience bobbed their heads to the rhythm as the Junior Big Band performed for the first time.

Furthermore, each boy within the band played a fantastic solo each! We were then treated to yet another phenomenal violin solo by Christopher Pigott (7C) who was playing ‘Sonatensatz’ (Scherzo from FAE Sonata) by Brahms. After an amazing performance from Christopher, the Wind Sinfonia, conducted by Mrs O’Hare, played the ‘Seven Nation Army’

by White Stripes, which powered sound waves across the hall, captivating the audience in the piece.

After the interval, the Fast Track (FT) band played The Rainbow Connection

by Paul Williams, conducted by Mr Byron. Next, Samuel Newman (9M2)

played a solo on the piano. The grace of the piece mesmerised the audience, as they drifted off into ‘Cloche des Matines’ by Burgmüller. After a wonderful performance by Sam, the String Orchestra played ‘The Foggy Dew’ (Irish Trad.), as well as ‘Old Joe Clarke’ (American Trad.), conducted

by Miss Maguire. The soft texture of the violins, violas, cellos and double basses echoed throughout the hall.

Yet again, the audience was treated to another solo – this time on the clarinet.

‘Clarinet Sonata Movt. 1’ by Poulenc was performed exceptionally well by Sameer Aiyar-Majeed (L6M2).

Following the astonishing performance

by Sameer, the Junior Percussion Ensemble performed ‘Mas Que Nada’ by Sergio Mendes, directed by Mr Ormston.

Their tunes were so contagious that the audience were swaying and dancing to the music! Following what was arguably the liveliest performance of the evening as of yet was an ‘extra item’ in Mr Osmond’s words. This gentleman is one of the top 25 pianists in the country and is currently participating in the Young Musician of the Year competition.

Harjivan Singh (L6H2) played a breathtaking piece followed by a massive, well-deserved round of applause from the audience. ‘Captivated’, ‘astonished’, and ‘gobsmacked’ were just a few of the words that audience members used to describe their reaction to the way Harjivan performed.

To follow an outstanding performance, the Junior String Quartet played ‘Quartet in C Major’ (First movt.).

Christopher Pigott, Thomas Ng (7J1) and Alex Taylor (7R2) played beyond beautifully on the violins whilst Aidan Cham (7M) played ever so elegantly on the cello. Finally, to conclude what had been a concert to never forget, the Big Band too performed in all their glory and might. They played ‘Big Mama Cass’

by Buddy Rich, originally directed by Mr Herd, but that evening conducted by Mr Simm, director of the world renowned Habs Big Band.

JAZZ AT LUNCHTIME This year we teamed up with the Girls’ School to produce a number of high-quality lunchtime jazz concerts. Repertoire ranged from the ‘Great American Songbook’, to tunes by greats such as Miles Davis and Herbie Hancock, to tunes by Egberto Gismonti and Stevie Wonder. Boys and girls of all ages featured in these concerts; the talents of some having been recognised during the course of the Habs Jazz Summer School that took place at the beginning of September 2017 (the next Summer School will take place in the summer holiday 2018 at the same time). It’s been great to see through these concerts and through rehearsals how so many young musicians at Habs have improved over the year, and some are really beginning to find their voice and become one with their instrument.

The concerts consistently received great turnouts; many students were there to support their peers and a lot of teachers came as well.

A particular highlight was at the Christmas concert when I burned over ‘White Christmas’ wearing a ridiculous turkey hat. Another highlight was when Mr Herd and others performed a composition

by Bill Frisell called ‘Twenty Years’; with its wacky textural, melodic and harmonic ideas I was surprised and excited to hear it being played in a school environment. Another highlight was when Tamilore Awosile (L6H2) and I shredded over ‘Confirmation’ by Charlie Parker in one of the concerts over at the Girls’ School – that was fun.

I’d like to take this opportunity to thank Mr Taylor, Mr Herd and Mr Ormston for all their work in putting together these concerts and for bringing about this wonderful Habs jazz scene and helping to produce an excellent crop of enthusiastic, precocious musicians.

BENJY SANDLER, U6

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STRINGS, WIND & BRASS CONCERT 18 January 2018 marked the first music event of the New Year, the Strings, Wind & Brass Concert. Throughout the evening, the audience was treated to a wide variety of outstanding performances, as well as a couple of award presentations to complete what was definitely a fantastic concert.

Mr Osmond began with a very warm welcome to the audience, expressing his deepest apologies for the cancellation of the Carol Service. He then told the audience to grab a pen and listed multiple corrections within the programme making the audience laugh!

He finished off by saying, ‘And now, let it [the concert] begin!’

The first performance of the evening was the String Trio. Sameer AiyarMajeed (L6M2), Hugo Max (11H1) and Joshua Lee (11J1) played the beautiful A Minor Finale of ‘Allegro di Molto’, composed by Haydn.

Next to perform were the Clarinet Choir, coached by Mrs Thomas. The gentle and melodious sound of the Clarinet Choir filled the hall as the audience were treated to Elgar’s ‘Salut d’ Amor’.

Aidan Cham (7M), Malcolm Parris (8M), Arav Oodit (8H), Solomon Summer (9J2) and Adi Vatsyayana (7S), coached

by Dr Gledhill played ‘They Say My Love is Dead’ by William Alwyn. After bringing tears to our eyes, the Cello Ensemble played ‘Jolly Old St Nick’ by Matt Turner which, in contrast to the previous piece, brought an upbeat and cheerful feel to the concert.

The audience were then left in awe as Sacha Holt (10M2), Kit Boulton (9R2), Shrey Shah (11J1) and Arish Patel (8S1), coached by Mrs Thomas played ‘Andante Grazioso’ by our own Mr Legge.

After a beautiful performance by the woodwind quartet, the Bass Ensemble played ‘The Battle’ by Tielman Susato.

Directed by Miss Maguire, Theo Sibtain (11R1), Purushot Sadagopan (L6C2) and Theo Michail (11J1) all played tremendously as the basses echoed throughout the hall.

The audience were treated to yet another woodwind quartet who played ‘Serenade from España’ by Allbeniz (arr. Bill Holcombe). Henry Colbert (U6M1), Benjamin Adams (L6S1), Max Goodkind (L6M1) and Alex Jones (L6R1), directed by Mr Legge, played a phenomenal piece!

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The final performance before the interval was a harmonious and beautiful violin solo played by Sameer AiyarMajeed. Sameer, accompanied by Miss Mair, played ‘Sonata in A’ (Movt. 4) by Franck. The way Sameer played was beyond elegant and his performance ended with a long, loud and welldeserved round of applause.

After the interval, Philomusica, conducted by Mr Osmond, played. The sounds of the strings, brass and gentle woodwind drifted through the audience as Philomusica performed ‘Polka’ (from the opera Schwanda the Bagpiper) by J Weinberger.

Yet again, the audience were treated to another woodwind quartet! Luckshman Sivathasan (L6H2), Riyan Lakhani (10R2), Petroc Hauser (10J2) and Howard Legge performed ‘Divertimento in F’ – Minuet, Allegro by Haydn. The staccato notes and general melody of the piece resulted in the audience bobbing their heads and tapping their feet!

“MUSIC IS ALL ABOUT TRANSPORTING PEOPLE; SPEAKING A LANGUAGE WHICH LANGUAGES FAIL TO EXPRESS.” - A R RAHMAN Directed by Mrs Reveley, the Flute Ensemble played two pieces, both of which were played to an extremely high level. The two pieces played were ‘Nola’

by Arndt and ‘Danse des Mirlitons’ by Tchaikovsky (arr. Holmes).

One of the last performances of the evening was the Trumpet Ensemble directed by Mr Bainbridge. They played ‘Sonata a 7’ by Biber, which, similar to the woodwind quartet, got the audience members swaying and bobbing their heads to the rhythm! In their next piece, the combination of the brass, percussion, double bass and the almighty Seldon Hall organ brought the piece to life. It was, without doubt, a phenomenal and empowering piece.

The final performance of the evening was the Symphony Orchestra strings playing ‘Simple Symphony’ by Britten, ‘Playful Pizzicato’, ‘Sentimental Saraband’ and ‘Frolicsome Finale’.

Conducted by Mr Gee, the plucking, elegant bowing, powerful chords and

overall atmosphere of the pieces, meant the Symphony Orchestra Strings was truly a marvellous ending to what had been a spectacular concert!

However, before the evening came to an end, there were two awards to be presented.

The Sheila Watson Prize, for being an outstanding member of the Symphony Orchestra for an extended period of time and holding up the moral values of Symphony Orchestra, was awarded to Fai Li (U6S2) and presented by Mr Watson.

The Wesley Woodage Prize was awarded to Joe Vaughan (U6R1) for commitment to his brass instrument as well as to the Brass Ensembles.

TAMILORE AWOSILE, L6

MUSIC

BARBICAN GALA CONCERT While the numerous concerts that are held every year at Habs by the Music Department are large and impressive, none of them come close to rivalling the majesty and splendour of the biennial Barbican Gala Concert, and it is without a doubt the foundation upon which most music at Habs is built. Months of rehearsals, organisation and time had been put into it, and the sheer determination of the Music Department to make the concert as memorable as possible has, as every audience member present that night will tell you, reaped its dividends.

The fabulous music of the evening was initiated with Habs’ elite Jazz Quintet playing standards from Miles Davis, Jackie McLean, Ron Carter and Victor Feldman and treating parents and guests to fabulous jazz well before the concert had even started. Messrs Taylor, Herd and Ormston were at the reins, and, to no one’s surprise, led Tamilore Awosile (L6H2), Arun Thavasothy (11H1), Benjy Sandler (U6M2), Kielan Sheard (11J2) and Bailey Newington (9S1) to fill the Barbican Centre with Habs’ signature sound.

As the lights dimmed in the Barbican Hall, our very own Reverend Brandon stepped out into the spotlight to treat the audience to his unique oratory skills – interwoven between the jokes he made, the Reverend demonstrated that Habs was, in every conceivable way, the home of many talented musicians and a place where music is a massive part of life at our school. Thus huge congratulations must go to him for providing an entertaining and enlightening commentary to the most important night of Habs music, accompanied, of course, by his charming and laid-back demeanour.

The first act of the Barbican was, without any doubt, absolutely thrilling.

Concert Band, conducted by Mr Simm (the primary force behind the Barbican event itself), greeted the audience with a thunderous rendition of ‘The Raider’s March’ from Indiana Jones, composed

by John Williams. The well-known piece

was executed with vigour and served as a truly explosive start to the evening’s music, and Guitar Orchestra (currently the largest orchestra of its kind in the world) was no exception to the norm. As usual, Miss Galuszka had battled for months both with the 97 boys in her gargantuan ensemble and with the two pieces of music that she herself had arranged for the performance – her confident and motivated demeanour has yet to be matched in the Music Department, and hearty congratulations must go out to her for putting together a staple of the Habs Barbican proceedings. After the stressful tuning of guitars had been completed backstage, they performed both ‘Lotus Eaters’ and ‘Bohemian Rhapsody’ with great conviction, the haunting melody of ‘Lotus Eaters’ and the tuneful memorability of Queen’s most recognisable song exuding from every pluck and every strum.

They were swiftly followed by the Prep School, conducted entirely by Miss Gozzard and accompanied by Miss Mair, who performed a medley of The Sound Of Music’s, well, music. Dancing goats, nuns and children dominated the stage, with the rest of the Prep School filling the stalls behind them and stunning the audience with their passionate and, above all, adorable performances. However, a Habs concert could not be complete without an explosive and emphatic performance from the best jazz musicians that Habs has to offer. Big Band (performing ‘Love for Sale’ and ‘Minuano’) was, as it so usually is, memorably excellent. Whether it be a result of their expressive soloing, enthralling mastery over their instruments, or their encore of ‘Groove Merchant’, no one will ever know – however, it can be said without a doubt that Messrs Simm, Taylor and Herd’s work and passion for their music is visible at every moment, and I am sure that they will continue to do a brilliant job of spreading their love of jazz throughout Habs.

The second half of the Barbican Concert was devoted entirely to the Orchestra, conducted by our newly-appointed Director of Music, Mr Osmond. They began the second half of the Concert with a vehement and powerful performance of the second John Williams piece to be played in the hall that evening – ‘Superman’. After the thunderous applause they received had died down, the School’s premier Classical Orchestra performed a musical and emotive rendition of Aaron Copland’s ‘Outdoor Overture’; the thrilling and moving motifs of the American composer filling the Concert Hall. And, for their penultimate performance, the Orchestra was joined by the Chorus to provide the audience with Handel’s most famous work – ‘Zadok the Priest’, the majesty of the Baroque coronation anthem booming throughout the hall. However, a Habs concert would not be complete without a rendition of ‘Jerusalem’. Thankfully, the audience was spared the curiously strange pronunciation of some words by Habs boys, but were definitely not spared their enthusiasm – the 2018 Barbican Gala Concert was brought to a close by an impassioned rendition of ‘Jerusalem’, sung by the entirety of the School.

Hearty congratulations must go to Mr Osmond, who, prior to the concert, had poured in all of his time and effort to ensuring that the Orchestra sounded as good as they did – he has most definitely cemented himself into the role of Director of Music at Habs. Naturally, we cannot ignore everyone else who made the concert the brilliant event that it was, from all the conductors and students who performed to all the parents and teachers who joined the Chorus; however, we in particular have to extend our thanks to Mr Simm, who truly was the driving force behind the entirety of the Barbican Concert.

ABHISEKH CHATTERJEE, Y11

ROYAL ACADEMY OF MUSIC JUNIOR JAZZ COURSE We are delighted to announce that three of our boys, Kielan Sheard (11J1), Tamilore Awosile (L6H2) and Benjy Sandler (U6M2), have gained places at the highly prestigious Royal Academy of Music Junior Jazz Course.

The Royal Academy of Music (RAM) is home to internationally-renowned and fiercely competitive jazz courses with recent alumni including Grammy Award

winning singer and multi-instrumentalist Jacob Collier (formerly a student of the RAM Junior Jazz Course). The Saturday Junior School has been the first step for many of the country’s most highly regarded jazz musicians (including former Habs student and international jazz vocalist, coach, arranger and writer, James Rose) and is an exciting opportunity for our boys to mix with the best young musicians in the country.

We wish them all the best and look forward to hearing their musicianship develop over the coming years.

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DRAMA

This year in Drama, Habs has seen a revolution in its productions. From new boys stepping up to be prominent school actors, and a brand-new director and creative team for the plays, the Drama Department is unrecognisable from how it was last year.

Highlights include Joshua Myers (U6S2) and Teddy Davis (U6R1) performing in an outstanding A Level piece entitled The Kiss, with Siavash Minoukadeh (U6R1) working on the design. Another change in pace to the usual Habs style was the companydevised Beyond That Distant Line, starring Max Goldstone (U6J1) in the leading part, supported by a huge ensemble of students from both the Boys’ and Girls’ Schools.

Whilst not as refined as the works of Shakespeare, Beyond That Distant Line was clearly a lot of fun to produce – you could see it in the performers’ eyes. The standard Junior Inter-House Drama and Senior Inter-House Drama competitions went ahead as usual, with a very high standard set by all involved. Overall, the addition of Mr Weinman to the Department has set up some interesting changes for it, and I look forward to returning in December to see what is next produced!

LEWIS FORMAN, U6

IN THIS SECTION Inter-House Drama New Views Writing Programme AS Level Theatre Studies Beyond That Distant Line

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The Arrival The Grandfathers Inter House Drama

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INTER-HOUSE DRAMA Calverts

Joblings

Our piece was Step 9 (of 12) by Rob Hayes and was about an ex-drug addict and alcoholic who is undergoing rehabilitation – a process which involves seeking forgiveness from those you’ve hurt. The rehearsal process began around 10 days before the performance and we began by cutting down the script and staging the production, before attempting to properly listen to one another, which proved to be the most successful quality of our piece.

As usual, the whirlwind two weeks of Senior Inter-House Drama took over our lives and challenged us creatively. After holding open auditions, to which only six boys, all from the same L6 class, showed up, six Jobloids set out for InterHouse glory. Throughout our week-long rehearsal process, we spent our time discovering the characters of our piece, internalising their personalities and telling their stories in a captivating way.

A sprint finish and a last-minute Sunday night rehearsal set us in good stead for the competition, and we were rewarded a satisfying third place for our efforts.

RAY KENTON, L6

Hendersons

GUY RAPACIOLI, L6 Adapting Bronson from the 2008 film was a challenge from the outset; how could we bring the thrill and ultraviolence to the stage? We experimented with multiple methods of bringing out Bronson’s intensity including simulated beatings and torture, but decided that we wanted to retain the truthful element of the piece, rather than exploit its theatricality. I thought the piece went extraordinary well, as we brought the right energy and pace to our performance but also allowed the comedic moments to shine through the clouds of violence and anger. It was an honour to work with each member of the company.

ALEXANDER COHEN, U6

Russells In accordance with Russells’ senior drama tradition, we chose to perform a comedy. The New Inn written by Oliver Russell (L6R2), sees three teenage boys – and one younger brother – on their first attempt at underage drinking in a distant, empty pub. Teddy Davis (U6R1), Ed Fage (11R1) and Oliver Russell played the boys, with Ethan Myers (10R2) as the younger brother whose ordering of an apple juice – ‘with a straw please’ – serves only to make the task of appearing older ever more difficult. The pub’s staff were played

by Ben Schwarzmann (L6R2) and Saul Shohet (L6R2), and Arnold, the eccentric

old man, was portrayed by Joe Rossiter (11R1), who, as a result of both a funny and sensitive performance, was awarded with the Middle School Best Actor Award.

The night was thoroughly enjoyed, and the second place overall was a testament to the hard work in rehearsals.

OLIVER RUSSELL, L6

Strouts Strouts’ scarily topical piece about a hypothetical terrorist attack in London made for a thrilling 15 minutes of theatre.

Told through the eyes of six survivors, this extract from Stuart Slade’s 2016 play, BU21, used monologues and the frame of a support group to tell a bitterly funny story. Having only chosen the play a week before, the busy rehearsal process focussed on making each individual character’s story truthful and relevant, drawing the audience into the disturbing narrative.

JOSHUA MYERS, U6

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DRAMA

Meadows This year Meadows decided to put on Jez Butterworth’s Mojo, set in a club in 1950s London with a group of gangsters trying to avoid being killed.

With a cast of five of Meadows’ finest, Meadows soared to success with Ronit Anand’s (11M2) and Dhillon Selvarajah’s (L6M2) double act (making his Habs Drama debut) of Sweets and Potts being both incompetent (the characters of course!) and hilariously funny. The more dramatic moments came from the power struggle between Baby (Joshua Baumring-Gledhill (U6M1)) and Mickey (Robbie Lazarus (L6M1)) with Robbie commanding the stage as the gang’s leader and a terrifying, yet darkly comic, performance from Joshua as he terrorised Skinny (Jamie Jarvis (L6M1)).

But what sealed the deal for Meadows’ victory was the dramatic finale – a dance sequence set to the tune of ‘Be My Baby’ that terrified the audience as the Mickey-Baby conflict came to a

NEW VIEWS WRITING PROGRAMME Following the success of last year’s entries, Habs decided to enter the National Theatre’s ‘New Views’ playwriting competition again this year.

The competition sees many schools across the country work with an assigned professional writer and their own drama departments to help students each write a 30-minute play. This year, Habs were assigned Elinor Cook, an award-winning playwright, to conduct a workshop with the boys involved and read a draft before the final versions are sent off. The New Views team at the National Theatre read every single play submitted across the country and the best 50 receive a commendation. As well as this, the best 10 plays out of these get a professional rehearsed reading at the National Theatre and the best play overall gets fully produced and performed on the National Theatre’s Dorfman stage. The process of writing a short play has been incredibly rewarding and hopefully the efforts of the many boys who took part this year will be reflected in the results of the competition.

JOSHUA MYERS, U6

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head. I can honestly say that Mojo was the highlight of my Habs Drama career – the rehearsal process was incredibly fun and there was a great final product put on show which was victorious in the results.

JOSHUA BAUMRING-GLEDHILL, U6

AS LEVEL THEATRE STUDIES This year in AS Level Theatre Studies we stretched ourselves to our creative limits, choosing to challenge ourselves to produce a piece of theatre out of our comfort zones. For our scripted performance we chose to perform Light, adapted by theatre company Complicité. Adopting their methods, our collective aim was to tell the story with clarity and creativity, harmonising fluidity and transmographication with clear, provoking storytelling.

In Light, adapted from the novel of the same name by Torgny Lindgren, a medieval Norwegian village experiences the deconstruction of civilisation after man introduces the plague to the villagers via a rabbit. We focussed on creating emotion through motion and producing a corporeal spectacle, incorporating elements from the pedagogy of such dramatists as Complicite, Jacques LeCoq and Antonin Artaud. The result was a final performance of which we could be proud, and a better depth of understanding of what it takes to make engaging Theatre.

GUY RAPACIOLI, L6

DRAMA

BEYOND THAT DISTANT LINE Beyond the distant line of the set, I saw curtains, much like what I believe the characters saw when they looked out into the sea – curtains – the ending of one life, the life that they knew and loved and the beginning of another, one which they knew not where it would take them, or whom it may involve, only that it would bring them away from their seaside town and their school to university in some form. This exceptional demonstration of multi-faceted acting saw the cast devise the play themselves, and have writer Andrew Muir compose their ideas into a script, with music composed by Tristan Parkes, with many cast members playing multiple parts. It ultimately must be stated that the play was wonderful to watch and all cast members should be commended.

The play follows a group of lifelong friends in their final year of secondary school, seeing them as they deal with multiple pressures, most notably grief and UCAS, while trying to promote their friendship and their Film Club.

Specifically, it follows the character of Alex, played by Max Goldstone (U6J1), as he attempts to cope with the loss of his sister Lucy, played by Chrissy Butler, whom he was very close to. The play begins with the death of Lucy, and follows the deterioration of Alex to a very noticeable and serious mental illness, with him shouting out multiple times, ‘What should I do!’ after a scream.

We see him isolate himself from his friends and his girlfriend, Chloe, and begin to seek solitude on the beach as he talks from time to time to another

girl, Kate. Max gives a naturalistic performance as Alex, as the audience becomes captivated by his emotions and his simple love for his sister, while also highlighting some of the terrible issues of mental illness in a noticeable yet sensitive way. The character of Lucy is seen for the most part in flashbacks. While at first, these were hard to perceive, quickly it became clear, through the use of transition music and spotlighting, what as precisely going on.

Lucy is portrayed as a loving sister who has found a new spirit for life after she had a medical incident. This leads her to go travelling where she met her end, but when we see her in the flashbacks, she is seen to be a typical older sister, with a clear connection between both Chrissy and Max, something that really developed the play.

The play develops later on, eventually reaching a climax where we find out that Kate also had a mental illness, and that Alex prevented her from committing suicide on the day that they met. In the penultimate scene, we see Chris confront Alex about his issues, leading to a fight and eventual resolution between the two characters, with Alex finally accepting that he has a problem. The play almost ends with the changing of the duvet cover, from that of Lucy’s room to something blank. This clearly signified the moving on from Lucy and that he was finally ready to get on with his life, with even his mother speaking almost extensively for the only time in the play.

Moreover, Chloe breaks up with Alex, and another character, Lee, finds the girl of his dreams that he talked about at the beginning. The final scene depicts the group of friends, along with Alex’s Skylark 2017/18 ~ 73

DRAMA

mother and the beach security guard, Jack, watching a film on Christmas Day on the beach. The ending to this play is extremely moving, seeing finally the acceptance by all the friends that they are about to move on and they don’t know what the future holds.

The set, technical operations and music were also triumphs of the play. The clever set design featured a beachfront littered with clothes with stairs at the back. This design allowed easily for its manipulation into a lecture hall, classroom or even a pub, but also aided the powerful moments on the beach when two characters interacted in defining moments of the story. The use of clothes on the beach also allowed for easy character change, with a suit jacket normally signifying the playing of an adult character, of which there were a few. The lighting and sound was designed to enhance the audience’s view of the play, with spotlighting being used extensively whenever a flashback occurred. This enhanced viewing as it gave some clarity to the events.

Moreover, the ambient sound and sound effects used simply added to the quality and overall experience. Finally, the music

THE ARRIVAL

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gave an almost melancholy and eerie feel towards it, utilising similar leitmotifs throughout the play giving a familiar yet sad effect. This was enhanced by the fact that there was live music, which simply added quality to the sound and gave a fantastically suited score the justice it deserved.

In all the play was an excellent display of not only the acting skills and musicianship of those involved, but also the creativity to help manufacture the play and the score in the first place.

SAM GRANKIN, Y11

DRAMA

THE GRANDFATHERS

THE KISS The A Level Drama group took inspiration from Chekhov’s short story, ‘The Kiss’, to devise a piece of theatre. Set in Soviet Russia, the adaptation follows a shy soldier who accidentally receives his magical first kiss in a dark room at a party. As he continues to fantasise about what the greatest adventure of his life was, his relationship with his arrogant ladies’ man of a best friend is threatened.

Inspired by the work of the theatre company Kneehigh – through its use of live music and physical, visual, playful storytelling – themes of friendship and adventures were

explored in an evocative staging of Chekhov’s tale.

It was a unique and fun experience to try and bring a story to life on stage, particularly with the focus on the work of Kneehigh, who have a great love for fantasy, fairy tales and comedy.

It was a fantastic opportunity to have a third student in the class who was being assessed on set design, meaning we had some beautifully painted moveable screens to play and experiment with in our storytelling.

Putting this piece of theatre together was challenging and rewarding. We had to be brave enough to discard huge amounts of work for the benefit of the piece and bold enough to continue to experiment even until the day of the performance!

JOSHUA MYERS, U6

Skylark 2017/18 ~ 75

SPORT

Sport is a major part of Habs’ co-curricular programme, with many different sports being played at many different age groups. With the vast amount of time put in by the teaching staff and the sport staff, every sport is played to a high level, beginning at Year 7 all the way up to the Sixth Form. This year all sport teams reached high levels of success stemming from the time sacrificed by the pupils and the staff.

Editing this section has brought me great joy in witnessing the successes of each team and just how much time is put into each sport. With new sports being introduced and more games being organised the future of sport at Habs has never been better!

ZECHARIAH MENGRANI, U6

IN THIS SECTION Rugby Hockey Football Cricket Athletics

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77 78 79 79 82

Swimming Badminton Water Polo Basketball Tennis

83 83 83 84 84

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1ST XV RUGBY WON 5

DRAWN 0

LOST 7

It had been a while since I last coached the 1st XV but I answered the call to arms with much enthusiasm. The boys in the senior squad were all well known to me and I knew that the leadership team, within the 1st XV, was particularly keen upon developing the culture of rugby within the School. This was to be an important aspect of this season as the School moved towards offering football alongside rugby as the main sports in the autumn term.

Thankfully, the majority of rugby players from both year groups had chosen to continue to play the game at senior level and vast swathes descended from the coach park for pre-season in a scene akin from Zulu Dawn. Multi-media platforms rightly receive close scrutiny for signs of improper use but they are a superb way of getting large groups of boys together.

From carrier pigeon to Instagram in 100 years – now that’s progress for you.

In my experience, the Haberdasher is at his most productive when he is provided with clear objectives. He likes a plan. A plan that is preferably simple to follow but permits him the opportunity to add his own personal slant to the job. So, we devised a basic game plan that would see our strong ball carriers commit defenders to the middle of the field before having a go out wide. Nothing too prescriptive beyond that. Within a few sessions, it became apparent that the boys were relishing their roles in the masterplan and hopes were high for the start of the season.

Our first game was against St Columba’s – a rollercoaster of an encounter if ever there was one. It started with a heinous blow to the morale of the squad when Michael Miller (U6M2), 1st XV captain, sustained a serious knee injury within two minutes of the game starting. We didn’t know it at the time, but that would be the last time that we would see him in action for the School. But it was far from the last time that we would see Michael. For, somehow, he managed to mask his own crushing disappointment in continuing to serve the team in his role as club captain. He attended every match, home and away, the vast majority of training sessions and set an example of sustained leadership that was exemplary, given the circumstances.

Back to the action, when Josh Edwards (L6J2) intercepted a pass under our posts and scampered 80 yards to score to make the half time score 10-0, the omens were looking good for victory at the first time of asking. Nadav Blane Damelin (L6R1) powered over five minutes after the break and we set about defending a 17-0 lead.

Alas, St Columba’s slowly and inexorably began to claw themselves back into the match. A try scored out wide on the left-

hand side with two minutes to go needed to be converted for St Columba’s to take the lead for the first time in the match. The goal-kicker never looked like missing. It was a spear to the side of the team and we agonisingly lost the match 23-24.

We built upon the positive aspects of this first performance by recording a 14-5 win against a youthful Hitchin Boys School 1st XV with Dylan Kaposi (U6S2) adding the cherry to the Bakewell tart with a virtuoso try at the end. Buoyed by this morale boosting win, we headed off to Mill Hill on its Founder’s Day with growing expectation.

Played onto the field by penny whistles courtesy of the Mill Hill CCF band, I was reminded of Shane MacGowan and The Pogues and their classic tune ‘Dirty Old Town’. Our play in the first half was anything but unclean however and we played with a crispness and pace, creating real problems for our hosts. A 5-0 half time lead, courtesy of a try from Nadav from a pre-arranged move, codenamed ‘The Cat’, was scant reward for our dominance. Mill Hill received the proverbial rocket from their coach at half time and returned to the fray with renewed vigour. A brave rearguard action from our boys came within eight minutes of recording a famous victory but an 8-12 defeat was the end result of a pulsating contest. A bitter pill to swallow after so much effort.

Then came a rather disappointing performance by an admittedly weakened team against Tiffin. Playing sport on Yom Kippur has always been a challenge for us but I am keen to maintain our fixture card as a mark of respect to our opponents. As it transpired, we had enough fire power to cope with Tiffin but we failed to play to our potential on the day and went down 8-30.

The tour to Dublin served to re-invigorate the squad. The senior boys of Habs have many other commitments other than rugby and the sheer magnitude of their involvement in the School can sap the strength of even the most ardent of rugby men. Two wins on tour and plenty of laughter was the ideal tonic as we approached the second half of the season.

A big win against Enfield Grammar School 52-7 added further reasons to be cheerful as we approached our encounter against a strong Watford Grammar School team.

The first half saw us fail to convert a myriad of chances – a theme that was slowly beginning to become an irritating aspect of the season – and there was all to play for going into the last 20 minutes.

Sadly in sport, the slings and arrows of outrageous fortune can have a notable impact on the outcome and the gods failed to smile on us that day. The final score of 0-17 did not reflect the closeness of the encounter.

It was at this point of the season that I began to fully appreciate the spirit of

this group of boys. Numbers at training remained consistent from first match to last with over 35 boys at every session.

The application of each player could not be questioned on match day and the boys worked hard to iron out weakness and polish up strength in training. The autumn term can be an arduous slog through the misery of early winter, but it never felt like that this year. I enjoyed the season very much.

Another strong team performance against St George’s, Harpenden nearly produced a surprise win against one of the strongest teams on the Hertfordshire circuit. Leading at half time and into the final quarter, Habs were looking good until St George’s began to piece together their offloading game against a tiring defence. Yet another noble defeat.

There followed one of our now infamous narrow defeats, this time against Dr Challoner’s. Despite one of the individual tries of the decade from our wing, Matt Copley (L6J1), the boys were guilty, yet again, of spurning some gilt-edged opportunities to stretch away from the opposition. This would come to bite us hard in the proverbial behind as Dr Challoner’s made the most of the limited possession afforded them to win the match 25-22.

UCS had a very strong 1st XV this year and a 7-33 loss reflected the gulf in experience and tactical nous between the teams. School sport on our circuit can be strangely cyclical in that most schools will go through periods of strength followed by a return to a more standard level of performance. Whilst we are undoubtedly affected by the arrival of football as a games option, there are plenty of indicators within our Junior School to suggest that we will have our time in the sun in a few years’ time. The difficulty lies in fielding sufficient teams in the meantime as these junior boys will need a full fixture card to display their talents when they reach the Sixth Form.

The annual match at the Allianz Stadium under floodlights is always a fitting end to the season and I was delighted to hear of an excellent team performance in an 18-10 win against our local rivals, QE Barnet. This was the least that these boys deserved after their total commitment to the sport across the term. I would like to thank the leadership team of Michael Miller, Luca Ignatius (U6J1), Dylan Kaposi and Animesh Misra (U6J1) for their unstinting support of the Rugby Club, Mr Lynch for his coaching and guidance of the 2nd XV and the expert assistance of Mr Taberner and Mr McIntosh. On a wider level, I would like to extend my gratitude to the School’s Medical, Grounds and Catering Staff for their help in supporting rugby across the school.

A METCALFE Skylark 2017/18 ~ 77

RUGBY With football being played competitively in the autumn term for the first time, this was always going to be a challenging season for the Rugby Club. Many of our best rugby players are also equally adept at other sports and the attraction of playing football from Year 9 meant that our U14, U15 and U16 teams bore the brunt of this change in games provision with the loss of some key players. But with the junior teams showing so much potential and the seniors taking on an almost ambassadorial role in promoting the game around the School, this transitional season contained more than a few shafts of hope for us all. The task now is to ensure that we continue to engage the junior boys (U12 and U13) so that they choose to continue with rugby when the choice between rugby and football is available at Year 9.

The U12s, under the passionate tutelage of Mr Kerry and Mr Lawrence, enjoyed a wonderful first season, recording 12 wins and only three defeats (with two of these losses coming in the Middlesex U12 tournament). Wins against St Columba’s, Watford Grammar School, Dr Challoner’s and QE Barnet certainly bode well for future block fixtures and a sixth-place finish at the Middlesex tournament revealed that the boys possessed the necessary strength of character to compete at a higher level.

1ST XI HOCKEY WON 6

DRAWN 5

LOST 6

This season has been one of our most successful in recent years, with plenty of wins and also some incredible comebacks after Mr Cooper’s motivational half-time talks. We also enjoyed good commitment for our training sessions.

A strong team was put together from pre-season training that remained largely the same. In goal we had Max Blum (U6H2), the provider of the half-time Jelly Babies. In defence, I was joined by Kit McDonagh (L6J2), Zamaan Dudhia (11H1), Aayush Pindoria (L6M1), and the not-so-dynamic Lucas Siu (11C2) who all made great tackles numerous times.

In midfield, we had the play-makers of Leeran Talker (U6H2), Adam Shiret (U6R2), Zechariah Mengrani (U6M2), Edward Cleaver (11M1) and Freddie ‘Derek’ Shiret (11R1). Our deadly strike force was made up of Matthew Copley (L6J1), Arman Islam (11S1), Amaan Lakhani (U6R1), Freddie Wright (U6R2), and Aril Pandya (U6S1) who scored plenty of goals between them this year.

On a cold January morning, our season kicked off with a game against the Old 78 ~ Skylark 2017/18

The U13s had a similarly strong season, finishing fourth in the U13 Middlesex tournament and suffering only two defeats in the regular season. Again, wins against St Columba’s, Hitchin Boys, QE Barnet and Watford Grammar School showed our dominance in the local area and I look forward to working with these boys on their tour to Biarritz in October.

The U14s endured a challenging season.

Having tasted success on the rugby field in the Junior School, the arrival of football as an alternative to rugby in the autumn term served to break up this previously successful squad. Where once there were victories now came only defeats and such circumstances naturally influence the morale of any games player. But the core of the group stuck together, and these boys have shown in the rugby 7s programme this term that they possess the necessary athleticism and skill to recover from a challenging season.

Results are not always a true reflection of development and the U15 rugby squad progressed in ways that could not be recorded on a scoreboard. By gaining a genuine sense of group identity and cohesion, the boys began to appreciate that a team is far more than the sum of its parts. They learned the value of serving the group, rather than simply the individual, and their long-awaited first win of the season against St George’s reflected these qualities within the squad. Much

Boys and despite our efforts to prevent them from gaining a significant lead, we were unable to get even, with the final result being 6-5 to the Old Boys.

Our next game was against St Albans, otherwise known as rugby players with sticks. As per tradition, their Headmaster didn’t falter when the chance came to give a short corner or foul in their favour.

However, we still managed to persevere and were able to get a 1-1 draw, with the help of Max’s great goalkeeping.

A game against Watford Grammar early on in the season demonstrated our potential to do well, with us coming back from 3-1 down to draw 3-3, as a result of great passing patterns between the midfield and the forwards. The icy pitch interfered with play, with both Aril and Zech stacking it in tremendous fashion.

A match against Dr Challoner’s taught us that we needed to react faster in order to prevent counter-attacks from punishing us. However, nothing that we did was anywhere near as bad as Zech’s Snapchat stories from the bench.Our game against Bishop’s Stortford was one of the highlights of the season with a fantastic display from everyone on the pitch that led us to our first victory, with the final

credit must go to Mr Holmes and Mr Rylands who imbued these values in all aspects of their coaching.

A summary of the senior rugby season can be found elsewhere in this section of Skylark but I wish to acknowledge the efforts of three U16 rugby players in their transition to the senior squads. It is not unusual for Year 11 boys to play in senior teams, but Rohan Oyewole (11J2), Jeevan Bhullar (11C1) and Jake Charnley (11J1) all made significant contributions and I would like to commend them on their courage and determination.

N HOLMES

Mr Holmes will be retiring at the end of the academic year after 33 years of service to the School. In that time, he has been an unstinting supporter of the Rugby Club in his capacity as the U15B coach. In 33 successive seasons, Mr Holmes has given over a year of his life in Saturdays alone to Habs rugby.

Thank you.

A METCALFE

score being 5-3. A specific mention must go to Adam for breaking the opposition’s ankles as well as Zech for tagging in for the sun and turning up in bright yellow tracksuits and sunglasses which were perfect for the rainy weather.

We were also able to comfortably win our next few games against Aldenham, Forest School and Haileybury, due to clinical finishing from the forwards, who were well supported by the midfielders.

Our game against Bancroft’s was a tough one – we were able to score a goal within 20 seconds of pushback, and dominated for the majority of the game.

But despite leading 4-2 with 10 minutes to go, we conceded two goals in quick succession with the second coming from a short corner.

Our annual derby against Merchant Taylors’ was an exciting match with

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plenty of action at both ends of the pitch.

The game saw us play some of our best hockey this season, with brilliant passages of play from the defensive line through the midfielders into the forwards. Although we were able to get on the scoresheet and at times looked more dominant, we were unable to clinch the victory, with the final score being 4-2 to Merchant Taylors’.

Our hockey tour to Bath was a brilliant way to round off a great season and, for some of us, our Habs hockey careers.

With an action-packed weekend of four matches in three days, the team did especially well, considering the circumstances. Our first game against Framlingham College displayed the team’s determination; despite losing 2-1 at halftime, we were able to turn it around and scored two goals by moving the ball around their players quickly, which allowed us to win 3-2. Our final game of the season saw us win against Lord Wandsworth College, where we were able to assert our dominance early on with two goals in the first half, after great defending and midfield play.

1ST XI FOOTBALL WON 8

DRAWN 1

LOST 3

The 1st XI had a successful season, winning eight out of 12 games, drawing one and losing three. After a 3-0 loss to Latymer Upper in our first game, we then went on a four-game winning streak, beating some quality opposition, such as Eton and St Bede’s. After being drawn to former champions of the cup, Millfield School, and suffering a heavy defeat, we then bounced back against Dr Challoner’s, winning 4-1, and out of the next three games, we won two and drew one. After undeservedly losing to Harrow, we ended our season on a high, beating Merchant Taylors’ 2-0.

The season was a clear team effort, with every player putting in a big shift in attack and defence and turning up to training hard every week. Big thanks therefore must go to every player, especially the Year 11 boys being called up, who all played key roles throughout the season. On behalf of the 1st XI football team, a thank you must go to Mr Hails and Mr Johnson, who gave up their time to train us mid-week and before matches, enabling us to have such a successful season, and hopefully enabling football to become even more popular than it already is.

RICKY THAKE, U6

Finally, on behalf of the team I would like to thank Mr Cooper for coaching us this season and helping us to improve as a team. Thank you.

DILLON KURANI, U6

1ST XI CRICKET WON 11

DRAWN 3

LOST 9

With seven players from last year’s side having left Habs to go on to university, a rebuilding process was inevitable and initially the signs were not particularly promising as Merchant Taylors’ thrashed us in the first of two T20 games back in September. However, a much-improved performance with both bat and ball in a second game gave cause for some optimism and when the 2017 season arrived the new-look Habs 1st XI began confidently under the captaincy of Jordan Urban (OH 2017), winning the opening four fixtures in some style. After the trial game against a Middlesex U17 side was cancelled due to unavailability over the Easter weekend, we opened our campaign with a 25-run victory over neighbours Aldenham in a 35 over game.

Batting first, Habs got off to an excellent

start with openers Amaan Lakhani (U6R1) (50) and Vinosh Jegatheesan (L6R2) (34) sharing in a partnership of 99 for the first wicket in just 15 overs. Thereafter, rather like England, we demonstrated familiar failings against good quality spinners before an entertaining 10th wicket stand gave us some respectability as we were finally dismissed in the last over for 167. Further wickets then fell at regular intervals, four of them to Man of the Match Amaan and two to Naresh Rasakulasuriar (U6S1) as Aldenham were restricted to 142 for seven. A second victory in consecutive days followed, this time against QE Barnet and was achieved with ease, thanks to another encouraging opening partnership between Vinosh (38*) and Amaan (24), who put on 50 in six overs.

We continued our excellent start to the season with a third victory in five days away at Bedford Modern School, although the result on this occasion could easily have been different. In a

tense and exciting game of fluctuating fortunes, Habs made a solid start after losing the toss and being invited to bat first, reaching 30 without loss in the eighth over. After the lunch interval, a fired-up Naresh, bowling with great pace and hostility, claimed the first three wickets. Habs captain Jordan switched his bowlers and fielders around but to no avail and the vital breakthrough remained elusive until Naresh, returning for a third spell, wrapped up the BMS innings with the first two deliveries of his 10th and final over to finish with matchwinning figures of five for 27. Another fine performance with both bat and ball against the MCC led to our fourth win of the season as we mounted a spirited and ultimately successful run chase to defeat our illustrious opponents for a second time in the last three years. Despite the sub-arctic conditions, with the occasional break in play for rain and hail, the School, with two young debutants Joe Granger (10H2) and Saihaj Singh (10J2) in the Skylark 2017/18 ~ 79

SPORT side, stuck well to its task in the field.

Unfortunately, our winning sequence ended abruptly against a very good Magdalen College School side at their picturesque ground on an island in the middle of Oxford. Both Saul Kaye (OH 2017) and Naresh completed fine half centuries, but in the end we subsided meekly, losing our last three wickets for just one run to be all out for 209, still 81 runs adrift. We returned to winning ways in the first midweek T20 game of the season against new visitors to Elstree in Chigwell School, who asked us to bat first in somewhat chilly, overcast conditions. Despite the poor conditions, with rain making the ball wet and the ground slippery, the Habs spinners all enjoyed success with Amaan (5-12) undoubtedly the pick. Chigwell were eventually dismissed for 65 to hand us victory by the comprehensive margin of 85 runs. We next faced Felsted School, one of our tougher tests of the season against whom, after comprehensive defeats in all three of our previous encounters and memories of Reece Hussain’s undefeated double century against us in 2015 still vivid, we were determined not to lose again. Felsted finished on 208 for five and Habs thus avoided defeat in this fixture for the first time. Against St Albans it was a case of what might have been, but a disappointing all-round performance handed the opposition victory by 16 runs in a game Habs really should have won.

A week later, in the first encounter at 1st team level between Habs and Watford since 2009, Jordan won the toss and, not surprisingly given the conditions, invited our visitors to bat first on a green track still drying after heavy rain during the week. His decision brought almost immediate dividends when left-arm seamer George Lawrence (OH 2017) had one of the openers caught behind at the start of the third over with Watford still to open their account. When we reemerged after the interval, it was raining again, more heavily this time, and so the decision was taken to abandon the match as a draw and allow the players to go home and revise! In the final game

80 ~ Skylark 2017/18

before the half term break and on the warmest day of the season so far Habs enjoyed a comprehensive 111 run victory in a T20 game against University College School.

Three weeks elapsed before our next fixture against Berkhamsted and the less said about this game the better.

Jordan won the toss and elected to bat first on a perfectly good wicket, but that was about as good as it got for Habs as we collapsed from 36 for one to 54 for eight through a series of injudicious shots. We needed a good start with the ball and got one as George removed the opposition captain in his first over with a full toss hit straight to mid-wicket and the safe hands of Taif Choudhury (L6J1). Four days later we managed to maintain our 100% record this season in the shortest format of the game by winning a third T20 fixture, this time against Forest School, who were visiting Elstree for the first time since 1993. In the absence of Jordan, Naresh captained the side and promptly lost the toss as Forest elected to bat first on a hot afternoon. Play was briefly interrupted by the appearance of a swan who refused to field at extra cover and waddled off to join in the Pre-Prep sports. Naresh finished the game with a six and 32 balls to spare. The following Sunday, on the hottest day of the year

so far, the Old Boys were too strong for our depleted and somewhat young side, who lost wickets at regular intervals, many to rash shots, and were dismissed for a disappointing 165. By also winning the 2nd XI game comfortably, the Old Boys regained the newly restored Nobbly Tanner Trophy for the first time in a decade.

After Mill Hill cancelled on us for a second time this term, our next match was at home against a strong Bancroft’s side and once again we contrived to lose a game we could and should have won. Unfortunately, to quote coach Mr Kerry, we were not ruthless enough and demonstrated a lack of mental toughness at key moments. Another midweek game, this time against Merchant Taylors’, also had to be cancelled after they reached Finals Day at Arundel in the HMC T20 competition, but the following day saw the annual Fraser Bird Match.

With the end of term and the Devon Tour in sight, this fixture is always one to look forward to and this year was no exception. After watching the rain fall all day on the corresponding date in 2016, on this occasion we managed to start on time and the Habs bowlers were soon amongst the wickets. The captain completed a fine and well-deserved maiden century at this level, but was then bowled with just one run required to win. However, George sealed a notable triumph with a boundary two balls later.

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Many thanks go to Nick Fielden (OH 1994) for assembling and captaining the Fraser Bird XI and to all our visitors for playing in a manner which would surely have pleased Fraser himself. For the final home game of the season we welcomed new opposition, Wellingborough School from Northamptonshire, to Elstree.

Our visitors proved to be a good side, reaching their target of 187, only four wickets down and with 10 overs to spare. Two days later we travelled down to Lyme Regis and began our annual Devon Tour with a comprehensive 141-run victory at Exeter School the following day. Details of this and the other three tour games may be found in Trips.

Suffice to say, we lost against Exeter CC and a strong Devon Dumplings side, but won the final game at Axminster against Devon U16s, with arguably our performance of the term, thanks to another fine century by Jordan (106*), who was still there at the end when we reached our target of 230 with six wickets and five overs to spare.

Jordan captained the side astutely and, after promising much with the bat all season but finding ways to get out, finally came good towards the end of term, scoring two centuries and two half centuries (and 378 runs in all at an average of 75.60) in his final six innings for the school. He eventually topped the batting averages this season, scoring a total of 590 runs at 42.14, taking his 1st XI career total over the last four seasons to 1465 runs at a shade under 30. He also made the short extra cover position his own this year, often taking vital catches. Jordan has served Habs Cricket well and we wish him all the best for the future. His vice-captain Naresh was the star all-rounder in the 1st XI. He scored 358 runs at an average of 22.37 with a highest score of 53 against the MCC. Naresh enjoyed his best season yet with the ball, taking an impressive 29 wickets at 14.72 and was genuinely quick at times. He currently has 80 wickets for the 1st XI and occupies 12th place in the Habs all-time list. Hopefully he will pass the 100 mark in 2018. For various

reasons more players represented the 1st XI in 2017 than previously, amongst them Luca Ignatius (U6J1), Taif, Jack Ronayne (U6C2) and Aayush Pindoria (L6M1). Luca was expected to feature regularly but suffered a stress fracture in his back early on and was unable to bowl thereafter. Taif and Jack both earned their promotions after good performances for the 2nd XI, as did Aayush, who showed once again that he has excellent technique and a good temperament. All four toured Sri Lanka with the senior squad in October and will no doubt be in contention next year along with a number of promising youngsters.

However, the success of the Cricket Club is not measured by the results and performances of the 1st XI alone. All the teams have contributed and everyone involved can take credit for the excellent results of the club as a whole.

For the full season report, more photos, results and information about the other teams, please go to www.habsboyssport. org.uk.

S CHARLWOOD

Skylark 2017/18 ~ 81

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U16 ATHLETICS The U16 athletic team’s season started off well with some good performances in the weekly Herts League competitions with convincing victories on the track as well as in the field. Our first major meet was the Track & Field Cup competition, which saw some great performances from Rohan Oyewole (11J2) in the javelin and Tolu Elesin (11R2) in the 300m. This strong performance put us in a good position going into the Regional Track & Field Cup, where we would face some exceptionally strong teams and individual

U14 ATHLETICS The U14 athletics team began the season with a warm weather training week at Club La Santa in Lanzarote.

Here we regained the fitness and strength that we had lost and refamiliarised ourselves with our events.

We trained in many different events throughout the week to try new things in case we discovered another event

athletes. We then had a long run of Herts League competitions and various district and county meets in preparation for the second half of the season.

The Regional Track & Field Cup was an extremely competitive meet as there were lots of national level athletes competing against us. The team as a whole did extremely well but unluckily missed out on getting through to nationals by just a few points. However we could not be disappointed, as we had put in some brilliant performances

that we were capable of doing. These training sessions led up to a pentathlon in the last two days of the week where we were split up into separate teams to compete to win the pentathlon. We returned home and started the season as soon as we returned to school.

Our first competition was part of the Herts League, an athletics league run for schools in Hertfordshire. We were usually fairly dominant in the

with many personal bests being broken.

The last competition of the year was the Herts League final, where we came up against some of the best schools in the country, meaning that we were content with placing fourth. Special mentions must go to Rohan Oyewole, Freddie Shiret (11R1) and Zamaan Dudhia (11H1) for all breaking long-standing school records and to Mr Lowe who played an integral role in the success of the athletics team.

ZAMAAN DUDHIA, Y11

first competitions. As we got further along the season the meets involved increasingly strong opposition. Our biggest competition was St Clement Danes, but fortunately we stayed ahead of them and, later in the season, won the Herts League. The other main ongoing competition that we were involved in was the Track and Field cup which is a national competition involving schools spanning the country.

This competition works on a team points total basis. Everybody gets a certain amount of points depending on their time, distance or height (depending on the event) and these points are added up according to a points table containing the scores for each event. This means that it is not about where you place in your event, rather your individual performance. The U14 team narrowly missed out on going to the final of this event by one point.

We overall had a very successful season and must thank Mr Lowe for organising the meets.

BENJAMIN HOCKING, Y9

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SPORT

BADMINTON The badminton season this year has been another eventful and lively one with a few home fixtures against schools such as Hitchin and also an away fixture, for one of the first times, over the weekend against Harrow. Many different people have had the opportunity to plawy with special mentions going out to Sohum Panda (U6H2) and Rushil Hora (L6C1), who have had considerably strong performances throughout this season.

Many people have come forward to help, with Shiv Khiroya (U6C2) and Zechariah Mengrani (U6M2) being reliable reserves for the U18 team, stepping up when the team really needed them.

Overall, although the matches this season weren’t always successful, the team spirit

SWIMMING was always high with everyone willing to play their hardest for the School when the time came and not being too disheartened in the face of continuous defeat, with even a surprise entry from Dhruv Kaushik (U6C1) who came out of his long two-year retirement from the squad to play the weekend away fixture due to the shortage of people available. Thanks must go to Mr Whalley who has been helping with training and squad fixtures for many years now, as well as Mr Hall from the English Department who has recently started to take over a lot of the responsibilities related to the squad training sessions after school on Wednesdays and with support during fixtures.

RISHIT NARULA, U6

WATER POLO Water polo continued with strong performances this year. The U19, U16 and U14 teams participated in the London Water Polo League and all of the fielded teams managed to finish second in their age groups.

Both the U18 and U15 teams qualified for National Championship Final again.

Unfortunately, because of the storms, the finals that were scheduled to be held in the Habs pool were cancelled. Consequently, a few weeks after that we had to travel to Northampton but we unfortunately just missed out on the trophy.

It must be mentioned that our water polo captain Aril Pandya (U6S1) was selected to play for the U21 England Squad and was awarded Man of the Match at a match in the tournament!

Congratulations to all the boys involved in water polo this year on a successful season!

The swimming team has enjoyed a lot of success this year. The team finished fourth in the Herts League, thanks to a tremendous performance from our junior section who amounted over 200 points over the course of the season. The Herts League consists of competing in weekly galas all over Hertfordshire, against schools such as St Albans, Berkhamsted, QE Barnet and St Columba’s.

The seniors are looking forward to competing in the Bath and Otter relays held in the London Aquatics Centre. Teams from all over the UK are invited to compete in the Olympic pool.

Many of our swimmers have also competed at county championships this year, outside of school. Felix Cheng (L6C2) has been selected to swim 50m and 100m fly. James Kaye (7C) had a fantastic year accumulating seven golds, a silver and a bronze medal.

Thanks to Mr Stiff for organising galas in the autumn term and to Miss Brandon, Mr Metcalfe and Mr McIntosh for their support in organising the galas in the spring term.

DANIEL MCCABE, U6

N JOVANOVIC

For the first time, our U12 team entered into the National Cadet competition this year, which is a national-run water polo competition for U13 players. Despite having younger players in our A and B teams, we managed to get some good results and progress further in the competition and keep improving our player development.

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SPORT

BASKETBALL This year’s basketball season, while more frustrating than we had hoped, has been fruitful and rewarding. With new players coming into the team, and with the majority of the starting V leaving with last year’s U6 cohort, we knew there would be steep learning curves ahead. However, the team took these lessons excellently, and the rate at which players have improved individually, and at which we as a team have become more cohesive, has been nothing short of remarkable.

We started the season with a game against Mill Hill, which resulted in a 40-20 loss. The team started well, but our lack of game experience and fitness was evident towards the end of the third quarter, when they began to pull away. The boys took vital game experience from this, many of us learning for the first time just how intense basketball games can be. The rematch at home against them two weeks later was far closer and had it not been

for one Mill Hill player being on somewhat ludicrous form, the final 8-point gap between the two teams may well have swung in our favour. We did take heavier defeats against a very well-drilled UCS side and a Haileybury team which seemed to have an NBA-level Point Guard in their ranks, but we performed professionally and to the best of our abilities, never once throwing in the towel. I admire the way the new boys have thrown themselves into the game this year: with training three times a week and a match almost every week, the amount of time the team has had to dedicate this year has far surpassed anything we have had to give in years gone by. I’d like to thank each member of the squad for this – it’s not easy balancing the masses of schoolwork we all face with such frequent, intense sport with so little recovery time. The wins we managed after half term were testament to their efforts, and were thoroughly deserved.

On behalf of the team, I’d like to thank Mr Pearson, Mr Raatz and Mrs Ghioc for their dedication to the cause and for helping

U15 COUNTY TENNIS CHAMPIONS On 6 June 2017 our U15A tennis team were victorious in the most dramatic circumstances in the County Finals held at Queenswood. After overcoming a Watford Grammar side containing one of the top nationally ranked players for his age in the country in the semi-final, our boys faced a very strong Parmiter’s team in the final.

After the initial four singles and two doubles matches we were all square at 3-3 after both doubles went to tiebreaks. Arjun Parmar (11R1) and Freddie

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Arbuthnott (11J1) then bravely stepped up to play a final shoot-out tie-break up to 10 points, holding their nerve superbly to win 10-8 under immense pressure. There were also fantastic performances from Jay Patel (11R1) and Jamanvir Kumar (11H2). Most importantly the boys acted impeccably both on and off the court, showing great sportsmanship at all times.

A LEE

Habs basketball blossom in recent years: it has been marvellous seeing the senior basketball team go from being almost entirely dependent on the captain only a few years back to now having three fully committed coaches. I remember joining the senior team in Year 10, with the captain just about managing to arrange three matches for the entire season, with two of these being cancelled last minute.

With Mr Pearson’s management, we’ve been playing games almost weekly, and this has been immensely helpful for team development.

I’d also like to thank Mr Kingdon for his years of hard work training the junior boys – I’m sure everyone who has ever been trained by him would agree they wouldn’t be the same player they are today without his guidance and expertise.

The future seems very bright for the Habs basketball team, and I hope the lower years continue to make the necessary sacrifices for greater success.

JOSHUA DJABA, U6

HOUSES

In my opinion, Houses are an integral part of life at Habs. As is remarked upon multiple times throughout this section, all the way even from before the start of Year 7 until the end of U6, one’s House remains constant, offering exceptional pastoral care and a sense of community. Inter-House events are truly an outstanding feature of the School, with competitions ranging from sport to music and from drama to academics, and even including more niche categories, such as modern foreign languages and Scrabble.

Something I personally found interesting when gathering articles for this section was the differing approaches of each House, with some certainly being very different in their character to others.

GUY DABBY-JOORY, L6

IN THIS SECTION Calverts Hendersons Joblings Meadows Russells Strouts

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HOUSES

CALVERTS The past year has been a bit of a challenge for the House at times. The summer term had left the boys in low spirits after not quite achieving the desired Crossman and Dunton Shields, however commendation must go to the great effort put in by all the boys in the big summer Sports Day. On the bright side, we did manage to grab ourselves the Senior Work and Conduct Shield. Led by new House Captain, Nick Jackson, it was our aim as a House to jump into the new academic year with full force and to take back those two shields we so narrowly lost from our grasp four years ago. Furthermore, the House has been raising money for the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation, a charity which helps young people affected by diabetes.

This was the charity selected by the boys and has proved to be an excellent cause to fight for. This year has also graced us all with the arrival of Mr Bartlett as the new Housemaster, taking over the reins from Mr Dathan.

The autumn term was a brilliant start for Calverts in the race to the Crossman, with 7C sweeping up a total of 16 points in the chess, Scrabble and general

knowledge Inter-House events. These great results were followed by many more notable performances, namely the Senior House Debating Team which made it to the final round after annihilating the opposition on the topic of liberalism and its limits. The Senior Inter-House Drama was a flying success, with the performance of Step 9 (of 12) winning us the award for Best Actor. We then put on our annual charity triathlon.

We saw great amazing physical talent from the new Year 7 boys, with many great performances, but above all, as always, we raised thousands of pounds for our House charity, with the boys putting in a sterling effort collecting money. The term then ended with a mountain of Inter-House events, ranging from Senior Chess to Senior Bridge and from Art to Rugby Sevens, with all the teams putting in a tremendous effort.

The spring term came with much potential. We saw the Battle of the

Waters in the Inter-House Water Polo where the boys fought hard and with great bravery; unfortunately, we only came fourth but a big commendation must go to all the boys involved.

A special mention must go to Mr Bartlett, leading from the front, and Mr Roncarati who has selflessly been organising the House charity matters year upon year, and of course to the House Prefect Team.

I feel that Calverts’ endeavours have been summed up by our new motto ‘qui audet ducit’ (Who Dares, Leads).

HUBERT BIALEK, L6

HENDERSONS Hendersons have enjoyed another successful year. The Year 7s settled in quickly, and it didn’t take them long to find their feet within the House. With an enthusiastic start to the Year 7 multievent, it was obvious they had potential.

This was followed up with a fantastic victory in the Inter-House Cross Country, which was a great example of team work and true House spirit.

One of our many highlights was the Inter-House Drama, where we saw both Senior and Junior School boys perform.

The senior boys took on the life of Charles Bronson, impressing with their

imaginative use of the props and some truly memorable performances. The junior boys produced a thought-provoking play on immigration, which won them the Special Award. The creativity, dedication and sheer number of hours invested in rehearsals was extremely impressive.

Sports-wise, we’ve had mixed success.

Despite some disappointments, the Years 9 and 10 team romped home to a victory in the Inter-House Badminton and the Year 9s again demonstrated their sporting prowess, winning the InterHouse Football. With several sporting events still to come, as well as the Music Festival, there is a quiet sense of optimism spreading through the ranks.

The Fun Run proved to be a jolly event, as ever, with the whole House coming out to jog/prance around the school grounds in their pyjamas. With further cake sales and other events on the horizon we look set to raise another bumper sum of money for our new House charity, The National Brain Appeal.

H GAUNTLETT

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HOUSES

JOBLINGS The past year for Joblings has been filled with tremendous successes. Last summer ended on a high after we topped both the Dunton and Crossman Shields for the first time since 1991.

This momentous occasion has been a culmination of impressive performances over the last few years, where we have finished second three times in a row. This achievement has also really inspired the boys to give their all in the Inter-House events this year to retain the shields.

At the start of this school year, we performed strongly across the board.

Inter-House Cross Country has been a

particularly good event for us, with wins in the Year 8 and Year 9 competitions.

Likewise, we had a truly dominant performance in Year 8 and 9 Chess, with our four England chess players easily cruising to victory. These impressive results, combined with the new Year 7s’ enthusiasm had us in the running in second place before Christmas. The start of 2018 has also been impressive, with a brilliant and unexpected second place in Senior Inter-House Water Polo, an event which has not traditionally been strong for us.

Elsewhere, Joblings continues to lead by example in the school community with our charitable events. Before Christmas, we ran a successful clothes collection campaign for Goods for Good, which will provide much-needed clothing for

refugees in war-ridden countries. In the summer term we also look forward to our sponsored rowing event for another charity, Drop 4 Drop, that will get the whole House involved and motivated.

2017 proved to be a very successful year for Joblings, and I am sure our success will continue.

LUCA IGNATIUS, U6

MEADOWS The past year has been the true epitome of the Meadowsian resurgence, embodied no more than by the event which sparked it all off – Sports Day. A barn-storming performance in which Meadows took all bar one trophy has been followed by countless achievements, both on and off the sports field. This magnificent effort was a fantastic way to end 2016/17 proceedings and gave a real boost to the start of the 2017/18 campaign.

Regular charity swim-a-thons and the Gala Dinner were combined with an inaugural Staff Bleep Test event,

displaying the passion of the boys throughout the House to continue their invaluable charity work and to strive not only to improve themselves, but also to work to make a difference for others as well. With the Work and Conduct Shields in our sights, the House Prefects have been working closely with the younger year groups, providing support and tutelage for those who require or so wish, including a university application advice session run by the U6 for the L6.

Not only do these sorts of sessions

allow useful and important knowledge to be passed on, but by opening these channels between the year groups, more so in this year than in the previous ones, Meadows has successfully begun to foster the family atmosphere which all Houses crave.

Not only has this year emphasised the importance of getting involved and supporting Meadows on an individual level, but also our internal growth and development as a familial body, which we shall strive to maintain for years to come.

ALFIE FOX, U6 Skylark 2017/18 ~ 87

HOUSES

RUSSELLS As the great oaks of Russells past depart, leaving a vacancy for new acorns to flourish, the character of the House and the boys that make up the House never changes, such is the cycle of Team Russells.

The school year does not start in September for Russells. In August, the Year 7 mentors and the new 7R acorns met for a kick about (in exactly the same spot that we did seven years ago!) to learn what the phrase ‘We Love It!’ really means. Throughout the year, the 7R lads have enjoyed incredible guidance from the Year 7 mentors: Ed Bach (U6R2), Kabir Kapoor (U6R2), Adam Kohler (U6R2), Niam Kotecha (U6R2) and Jamie Leslie (U6R2). This has ranged from putting on an inspirational Junior Inter-House Drama performance directed by Teddy Davis (U6R1) to displaying their culinary skills in a bake sale, and even to getting their clothes dirty cleaning Bates tables on a Friday or showing their creative ingenuity in the Tesla Cup (set up by Krish Chadha (11R2) and Ed Fage (11R1)), with their enthusiasm unwavering.

Team Russells’ Crossman title challenge can be likened to Usain Bolt running the 100m, starting slow but blitzing the last 50m! Having fallen to fifth place after mixed results in coming fourth in the Inter-House Cross Country but first in Inter-House Chess, it took Inter-House Badminton to start the revival, only dropping two Crossman points across the year groups. The momentum continued to Junior Inter-House Drama where second place was achieved after sensational performances from Abim Tayo (8R) (awarded Best Actor) and Josh Jonas (7R) (Best Runner-Up). With ‘We Love It’ running through their veins, and ‘It’s not about the dog in the fight, but the fight in the dog’ in their hearts, Team Russells have managed to peg the Purple Peril to a difference of just three points.

Ironman is Team Russells; Team Russells is Ironman. Ironman is the most brutal and courageous thing a Russells lad can partake in: as many lengths of the pool in 15 minutes accompanied by the rhythmic beat of the Team Russells drum. If that doesn’t wake you up from the monotony

of daily life, then I don’t know what will! The Russells lads dive into that pool like they are the Kings of the Oceans, swimming 10, 20, or even 30 lengths and earning shedloads of bunce (greasy wads of cash) to go to the Chai Cancer Care charity.

The influence Team Russells has had on my experience at Habs has been fundamental to shaping who I am. Serving as House Captain in my last year at Habs has been an incredible honour, but I could not have done it without the support of my two Vice-Captains, Joel Carlowe and Adam Shiret, and the U6 boys. Despite having to deal with the ever-present UCAS and A Levels, boys have dropped everything for the House at times and that is what I will remember most about Team Russells. I wish the next House Captain success in the future and hope that the essence and spirit of Russells never changes.

ABBAS KERMALLI, U6

STROUTS The House system is an integral part of life at Habs, in that it allows each boy to feel an allegiance towards a group; it is an identity that will remain with that pupil until he leaves the School.

Rather wonderfully, each House has its own unique ethos and I have been very keen during my time as Housemaster to highlight exactly what it means to be in Strouts, so that we can continue to remain true to the spirit of the House in the future.

As a teacher, I have been affiliated to the House for well over a decade. In that time, I have seen many boys and staff come and go, yet the spirit of Strouts remains the one constant that will see us all out.

Loosely, being in Strouts, we have a right good go at what lies in front of us, whether that be in an Inter-House event or a U6 Oxbridge application, but we never lose our sense of perspective and sense of humour. Life is there to be enjoyed. There is enough pressure placed upon the youth of today without this heat burning down the timbers of the House of Strouts.

We emphasise the need for Junior School boys to learn about the importance of organisation and routine. In the Middle School, we encourage the boys to develop their interests towards becoming a rounded character. Once in the Sixth Form, the boys will be provided with leadership opportunities that will allow them to develop some key life skills for the future.

I am, as ever, indebted to Mr Jones for his constant support of both me and the boys in the House. He goes above and beyond what can be expected of a Deputy Housemaster – none more so when he

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covered my paternity absence at the end of the autumn term. Thank you.

I must also publicly acknowledge the contributions of our House Captain, Jacob Jefferson (U6S2). From the start of his tenure, he prioritised his role above all his other responsibilities within the School to provide a most effective link between the boys and the staff of Strouts. He has been mature and level-headed throughout the year, and I am very grateful for all that he has done for us in his year as House Captain.

Finally, I hope that our U6 boys will have garnered enough wherewithal to leave this school and to spread their wings and fly, far away from Elstree. The temptation to stay close to home is strong and understandable but to appreciate life in all its glory requires bravery and a degree of risk. Go forth with hope in your hearts, gentlemen!

A METCALFE

CHARITY MATTERS

Charity really does matter at Habs. Editing the section this year has opened my eyes to the amount of amazing work the School does for charity and the passion with which each boy takes part; none of which would be possible without the fantastic work and organisation of the Charity Matters Committee. Efforts extend beyond the school charity and it was delightful to see many students take part in another successful Mencap Funday. Thanks must go to Dr Perera and the Mencap Committee for making such an impactful event run smoothly for another year. It was also inspiring to see some boys take the initiative and help out with worthwhile projects outside of the School.

SAIFF HAMID, U6

IN THIS SECTION Mencap Funday Wings of Hope Children’s Charity Green Pastures and Third Hope Africa

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CHARITY MATTERS

MENCAP FUNDAY The Mencap Funday is one of the most eagerly anticipated, rewarding and enjoyable events during the calendar year and has taken place at the School annually for over 20 years. The charity was founded in 1946 and has supported people with learning disabilities, and their families, across the UK. The Funday provides a day of activities and games for approximately 100 guest children aged five to 19 with a range of disabilities. 2017 was also the first year that the Boys’ School teamed up with St Albans High School and when 25 June 2017 came about, the Funday was a huge success.

The Mencap Committee has worked throughout the year to organise a range of events in support of the Funday. The first was the Christmas Candy Cane fundraiser where the boys or girls had to pay £1 to send a candy cane to anyone in either school. Another major fundraiser, which has now became a staple event of the Habs calendar, was Mencap’s Got Talent. Joining this event with Mufti Day allowed the Committee to raise £2 per student. This show not only generated a lot of money for a worthwhile cause but also allowed the boys to entertain each other with their talents. We would like to greatly thank XL Catlin who generously aided our fundraising efforts by providing significant sponsorship.

Without their support, the numerous activities we provided on the day would simply not have been possible. Outside of the fundraising, the committee has also given assemblies to educate boys

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about the day and encourage them to sign up, trained volunteers and organised events for the day.

There were many activities set up for the children on the day. The bouncy castles and ice cream van were particularly popular, but there was also a games room, an arts and crafts room, animals to play with and a fairground ride. We opened up the swimming pool for the children for the first time too. The man in charge, Adam Kohler (U6R2), told us ‘the kids absolutely loved playing in the pool.’

It was clear that the guest children really enjoyed the Funday; many try to attend annually as it is a highlight of their year. This was reinforced by the numerous positive comments from the parents, who not only remarked on how enjoyable the day is for the children but also emphasised the caring nature of the volunteers and how grateful they were for their support. Whether performing in or attending Mencap’s Got Talent, attending training sessions, helping to run activities or taking children around on the Funday, the volunteers gave an immeasurable amount of their time and energy to make the day as pleasant as possible. They showed immense care, patience and compassion that allowed the visiting children to enjoy the day to the full. The Committee would like to thank all the volunteers, both staff and students alike, for their hard work and dedication. Without their efforts, the Funday would not have been as successful as it was. I would also like to express my thanks to the Mencap Committee for their hard work and dedication throughout the year.

Above all, we would like to thank Dr Perera, whose commitment, attention to detail and determination every year has made the Mencap Funday one of the most successful and worthwhile events the School has to offer. The day is a truly inspirational event; the students enthusiastically take up the opportunity to directly improve and affect the lives of people less fortunate than themselves.

The reward and fulfilment gained by the volunteers is unparalleled. Most importantly, the day enables the children with disabilities to feel valued and to have a carefree day to enjoy themselves.

I would also like to wish Mr Raatz and Jonathan Obstfeld (L6S1), the new Mencap Committee Chairman, as well as the incoming Committee, all the best in their preparation for next year’s Mencap Funday.

ABBAS KERMALLI, U6

CHARITY MATTERS

WINGS OF HOPE CHILDREN’S CHARITY In December 2017, Guy Dabby-Joory (L6H2), Viraj Shah (L6M2), Mahin Vekaria (L6H2) and Arun Nandakumar (10J2) went to Chennai in Southern India on a charity trip with the Wings of Hope Children’s Charity.

as the many sights, smells and sounds which were a sharp contrast to London.

We spent a few hours recuperating from the flight, taking the opportunity to try some of the local South Indian food (which I found very spicy).

The Wings of Hope Children’s Charity aims to educate children in India and Malawi. It does this by running an annual award, the Wings of Hope Achievement Award (WOHAA), with a challenge to raise money for the charity, often in creative ways. We went on the trip having won the award in previous years, with myself, Mahin and Viraj having won as part of EduNation in 2016 and Arun having won in 2017 as part of Team Oak. The prize for winning WOHAA is an allexpenses-paid trip to India to help out in one of the schools funded by the charity.

On Monday, we took the short journey to the school in T. Nagar, where we were welcomed by the Headmistress.

We then started teaching the children, who spoke English exclusively at school, starting in the morning with children aged four to six, then progressing on to seven to 10-year-olds and then 11 to 14-year-olds in the afternoon. The school was dedicated to Sai Baba, a holy figure within the local culture. This meant that the children often broke into songs about him, particularly before lunch and after some lessons. All the children ate lunch on the floor in one big hall.

Having taken the long flight, we arrived in Chennai on 17 December 2017. We were immediately struck by the intense heat and humidity of the area, as well

Geography to Spanish and French.

Some highlights of this included maths and geography quizzes, which were especially enjoyed by the younger years who learned a lot from the lessons.

On the last day, all of the school convened for a culture festival. We played the tambourine to accompany Christmas music and led some traditional Indian Garba dancing. However, this paled in comparison to the prowess of all the children ranging from yoga to playing the sitar. We were then presented with gifts and cards from the children, before travelling back to our hotel and finally flying back to London.

All in all, we had a great trip and would certainly recommend participation in WOHAA to anybody interested.

GUY DABBY-JOORY, L6

Over the next few days, we continued to go to the school daily, teaching lessons ranging from Maths and

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CHARITY MATTERS

GREEN PASTURES AND THIRD HOPE AFRICA For a second consecutive year, the Boys’ School has chosen to support the fantastic charity Green Pastures.

Green Pastures is a charity which supports children in Uganda to receive a secondary school education. The school that Habs has joined up with is in Mbale – a city situated in the Eastern Region of Uganda. In Mbale, 85% of secondary school age children cannot afford to go to school; without state-funded secondary education, many students are unable to proceed beyond primary school. Many of the students that the school plans to help currently live in semi-permanent or temporary housing and take on regular responsibilities at home.

As a school, we pledged to raise for Green Pastures a certain amount of money at the start of the year. Any extra money that we raise is given to Third Hope Africa, located in Northern Uganda, which is a charity that focuses on the long term rehabilitation of exchild soldiers who were abducted from their schools and villages. They give the children homes in a village comprising buildings the charity calls ‘Living Circles’ that can house 30 to 40 people and offer trauma counselling through different types of therapy.

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The Charity Matters Committee have received talks from members of both charities regarding what they achieve on a daily basis and how we can help. In order to raise money, the Charity Matters Committee run a variety of events throughout the year.

We have termly Mufti Days, where the boys must pay £1 to come to school in their own clothes, as well as Krispy Kreme doughnuts sales. We have also run a £1 challenge with the Junior School where we gave each student a £1 coin at the end of the autumn term and challenged them to invest it and raise as much money as possible, by exchanging it for supplies which they could use to make a profit. Furthermore, during the spring term we ran a Teachers’ Countdown with Rev Brandon and Ms Simons on one team and Mr Lennon and Dr Courtney on the other, where we charged £1 on entry. We also recently partnered with the Prep School, who ran a sponsored Read-a-thon to raise £3,000. Near Christmas, we went to one of their assemblies and encouraged them to fill a plastic folder with as many small items as possible, such as stationery or clothing, which we sent to Uganda for the school children, upon recommendation from one of the talks we received as a committee. The Charity

Matters Committee meets every Monday and is constantly trying to find new and innovative ways of raising money. We hope to soon have more new ideas and events for next year.

JACK SEIFERT, U6

SCS, OL & CCF

One of the highlights of the school week is the Friday afternoon activities, which students from Year 10 and upwards take part in. These activities are split into the categories of Combined Cadet Force (CCF), which further contains the Army, Navy and RAF Sections; School & Community Service (SCS) and Outdoor Leadership (OL). Each one of these overarching sections has something incredibly unique to offer, which is reflected in the wide variety of articles I received this year. Reading through the submissions, it is clear to see the amount of enjoyment created by these activities, and as someone who takes part in SCS Props (which is of course the best!), I must agree, as every Friday you can sense the excitement and energy around the School. Overall, this is one aspect of Habs life that I am definitely going to miss.

JOSH WARNER, L6

IN THIS SECTION School & Community Service (SCS) 94 Outdoor Leadership (OL) 96 Combined Cadet Force (CCF) 99

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SCHOOL & COMMUNITY SERVICE (SCS)

SCHOOL & COMMUNITY SERVICE (SCS) Heath House Care Home Every Friday afternoon Mr Todhunter, Zach Francis (10S2), Philip Roberts (10J1) and I travel to Heath House Care Home in Bushey, a 10-minute drive from Habs.

Heath House is a purpose built, 60-room care home for elderly people with a range of dementia-like symptoms where they receive day care whilst maintaining an independent lifestyle.

Philip says, ‘After a leisurely chat over a cup of tea and a plate of biscuits, the room is divided into two teams for the eagerly anticipated quiz. Often things get very rowdy – the residents enjoy a good laugh (most often at our expense) and the quiz always ends with a clear victory for ‘Team Bushey’, even after Mr Todhunter does his best to help the other side.

Allowing everybody to have an equal opportunity to answer questions and

contribute can be a challenge due to the varying degrees of hearing loss and difficulty with speech and memory but the quiz provides a stimulating challenge and a cheerful atmosphere.

Some of the residents have impressive stories about their lives, which we listen to with humility; Ernie is nearly 100 years old and served as a Royal Marine in the Second World War. There is also a former accountant and maths whizz whose mental arithmetic remains as sharp as ever, and a lady who enjoys poking fun at us (particularly Zach) and who is less than complimentary about the quality of our tea-making!

After getting to know them a little, I know that they thoroughly enjoy our visits – it provides a welcome opportunity to laugh and have some fun.

In conclusion, attending Heath House is very rewarding and interesting.’

PHILIP ROBERTS, Y10 AND SAMEER AIYAR-MAJEED, L6

AV Team The SCS AV team work to underpin the success of many school events; we are happy to serve the community here at School. There are a wide variety of interesting contributions to be made: managing audio, visual and PowerPoint presentations, supporting the use of microphones for assemblies and recording plays and orchestral concerts.

We also manage the digital signage in school as well as the testing of equipment around the School.

When there are new members to the team, we take the time out to help them understand how everything runs so that they are comfortable running events. It is a very rewarding SCS option and it not only provides students with lots of technical experience through using a wide range of professional equipment that the School has to offer, but also helps to develop teamwork, management and communication skills. We really enjoy doing this and hope to see more students joining us.

JED WAGMAN, Y11, ARYAMAN BHUWANIA, Y11 AND SHARAD PATEL, Y11

Water Polo Three senior boys have been assisting Mr Jovanovic in coaching the up-andcoming Year 7 and 8 squad during Tuesday lunchtimes.

They have been training the team hard and have taught them to pass, eggbeat (tread water in water polo), and shoot, as well as how to set up a basic man up.

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The boys are thoroughly enjoying coaching their sessions and enjoy watching the junior boys’ skills flourish and seeing them develop as players in the pool.

NIKHIL PATEL, Y11, ELIAS THIERRY, Y10 AND MYLES YATES, Y11

SCHOOL & COMMUNITY SERVICE (SCS)

Radlett Lodge School Every week, four Sixth Formers volunteer at Radlett Lodge, a school for children with severe autism.

‘We socialise with the students and help to run mini golf sessions for them.

As well as being highly rewarding and enjoyable, this volunteering has taught us important skills, such as communicating with people with learning disabilities.’

MAX GOLDSTONE, U6, RUSHIL RAGA, U6, OMAR MAJUMDAR, L6 AND SAUL FEDERMAN, U6

Props In SCS Props, boys use their initiative and imagination to produce the props required for our school productions.

It has been business as usual this year for our friendly team. We started by making masks for the ball scene in the Shakespeare Drama Competition, which involved creating many characters.

We used a base of a pre-formed plastic mask, then built up the form of a character onto it and spread a thin layer of papier maché all over which helped to strengthen, followed by the painted detail. We are also creating some eyeballs for a drama workshop.

When time is available we ensure that the presentation of the display boards around the School are in good condition.

We also helped to prepare the Art Department (our favourite department) for Open Day. All of us in SCS Props really enjoy the way in which we can serve our community, and of course we do it with a smile and many biscuits!

OSCAR SPALTER, Y11

Penniwells RDA Centre This centre provides opportunities for children with physical or learning disabilities to ride as part of their rehabilitation programme or ongoing care.

‘We have been attending a local Riding for the Disabled Association horse riding centre which has involved our contribution of supplying food and water for the horses involved, as well as cleaning stables and working around the yard.

We are grateful for having an opportunity to work with people in need, as well as to familiarise ourselves with the work behind the scenes that goes unnoticed to ensure a positive experience for those using the facility.’

ANTHONY SIM, Y10

Kestrel Grove Nursing Home Each week Habs boys volunteer at Kestrel Grove Nursing Home in Bushey.

The number of personal skills they have gained, combined with the incredibly interesting stories and experiences they’ve had the opportunity to hear, ensures that it is an activity they all look forward to and value every week.

‘Compassion is the school value that we all have become significantly more aware of through things as simple as conversing with a few of the residents, especially those with dementia.

Occasionally, some residents do not remember particular conversation details from weeks prior and have brought up questions and topics that we had discussed with them previously so, by simply building up the ability to continually have the same conversations with these residents whilst maintaining our enthusiasm to improve their moods, we have received the opportunity to understand true compassion – not simply being sympathetic but being actively aware of their situation and doing as much as we can to make their days better.

We have been enjoying a whole range of activities with the residents – from conversations about their lives to playing Scrabble or chess, all the way to presenting our own quizzes to them and experiencing the fine talents of Habs’ musicians, and we have all become very friendly with the residents in a short space of time.

Our confidence has developed significantly, as we all now feel that we have gained the ability to have interesting and thought-provoking discussions with strangers and we feel that SCS has contributed to our characters.’

VIRAJ SHAH, L6

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OUTDOOR LEADERSHIP (OL)

OUTDOOR LEADERSHIP (OL) October Field Day – Fairlop Outdoor Activity Centre This Field Day occurs every year in October and features a great number of water-based activities. Personally, I love water activities. Last year, I did a mixture of kayaking and sailing, along with an incredible paddle boarding experience. This was extremely fun, as I was able to bond with my friends while learning how to manoeuvre my way around. Additionally, the most memorable part was the raft building.

Although we shamefully couldn’t tie a knot, eventually, once we had received a lot of help from our amazing instructors,

we had a raft. However, it was not about the sailing of the raft. It was about building it. It required all of the group working collaboratively so that we could actually have a raft to paddle.

This activity did not only invoke team work, but also leadership, as one would have to take control and delegate roles to the remaining team. I believe that this was what Outdoor Leadership had trained me for, and the skills we picked up during the Friday sessions allowed me to partake and lead my team through this activity. Boys in other year groups participated in a variety of activities

Scuba Diving Outdoor Leadership is proud to offer a scuba diving course, which offers a PADI certification at the end of the course.

This gives the pupils a licence to perform scuba diving all over the world. Many students have completed this course and have thoroughly enjoyed it. It features multiple instructing sessions and relevant drills to ensure all protocol is learned to ensure safety. It is completed in our

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pool every Friday, with a trip at the end of the year to a source of water for the pupils to actually see aquatic life. There is also a potential scuba trip on the horizon to Malta, about which a high level of interest has been shown by members of OL.

KRISH CHADHA, Y11

also involving water, such as sailing, canoeing and powerboating.

KRISH CHADHA, Y11

OUTDOOR LEADERSHIP (OL)

Lifesaving This year at Outdoor Leadership the U6 have been helping to organise events on Friday afternoons. I planned and led a four-week crash-course on lifeguarding, alongside fellow Sixth Formers Jeffrey Tooze (U6J1) and Emre Aygin (U6C1), as I have had experience working and training as a lifeguard. The aim of the course was to give the Year 11s an insight to lifeguarding whilst teaching them the basics to set them up in due course to become a lifeguard themselves.

DANIEL MCCABE, U6

First Aid Although it may not seem necessary to be instructed on first aid, it is vital that we all have an immaculate skill set in this section. Outdoor Leadership, in my eyes, is a system where one learns all the skills needed to enjoy the outdoors, and consequently first aid is essential.

With the aid of St John ambulance service, all current members of OL retain a basic level of first aid skills.

We began by understanding what to do if there is a medical emergency, and how to assess the situation. We use ‘DR ABC’, where firstly one must understand if there is any danger to them if they were to aid the victim, such as broken glass. Then one must test the responsiveness of the person, if you are able to understand what has happened, if they’re conscious, etc.

Then you must check their airways, if they are clear or blocked, and consequently their ability to breathe.

Finally there is need to assess the circulation, checking for any excessive bleeding etc. and what do to if this is occurring, such as learning how to apply a dressing. Although it sounds relatively straightforward, these skills could prove to be incredibly useful, potentially saving someone’s life. In addition to this, we were also taught how to perform specific manoeuvres, such as the recovery position or performing mouth-to-mouth resuscitation. A personal favourite of mine, the Sixth Formers put together a rigorous selection of further first aid presentations and activities to ensure these skills remained and weren’t discarded, as well as broadening our knowledge, reaching into topics such as heart disease.

KRISH CHADHA, Y11

Navigation and Cooking The beginning of Year 9 saw the teaching of orientation and navigational skills, skills which would prove to be essential during outdoor activities. Sixth Formers explain how OS maps work, how we can use them to direct ourselves to certain locations and how to use a compass. It sounds simple, however the acquiring of these skills enabled us to complete the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award, and countless OL tasks and trips. We completed multiple orientation exercises around our grounds, as well as Aldenham Country Park, where Sixth Formers had placed several placards (or sometimes even food) in locations and then gave us the coordinates to go and find it. We were consequently able to put into use these skills while learning other outdoor skills, as these were often paired with cooking

challenges using Trangias. We would first search and obtain the ingredients, and then using the bushcraft area, we were instructed on how to cook fairly lavish meals, including the Haberdashers’ Aske’s Outdoor Leadership ‘Mexican Kitchen’, where we made a three-course feast, creating dishes from fresh guacamole to tortillas, all outdoors using just the essentials. In order to harness and develop these skills there were multiple workshops set out by our Sixth Form team and staff, teaching us how to use the equipment safely.

KRISH CHADHA, Y11

Cycling Perhaps my best memories come from the 10-week cycling activity run

by Dr Hobbs and Miss von Truchsess.

This course took us around the area surrounding Habs, along the runway at Elstree Aerodrome, and through small nearby towns. The course taught us and allowed us to practice road cycling, as well as off-road cycling. Luckily the weather was immaculate, allowing for some good cycling. The rides, although

tough, were incredibly enjoyable, as we were able to adapt to each other’s strengths and weaknesses, meaning we as a group stuck together. I particularly loved this activity as I found that it was a great way to end the week, as well as really enjoying the outdoors, as a team, therefore encapsulating everything Outdoor Leadership is about.

KRISH CHADHA, Y11

Outdoor Survival The art of constructing a tent and putting up a shelter was also imperative to our survival outdoors. Therefore, the OL staff put together a fun exercise to teach us how to put them up. First it was demonstrated to us, then followed the fun bit, putting up a tent with no ability to see, blindfolded. With only the voice of a peer, one had to construct the tent properly, ensuring it was secure without the aid of vision, ensuring that if faced with the situation, we could put up a tent in complete darkness.

KRISH CHADHA, Y11

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OUTDOOR LEADERSHIP (OL)

Gorge Scrambling On 11 March 2017, I woke up at 5:00am and as I got out of my tent, I was welcomed by cold yet crisp weather conditions.

Hastily, a few friends and I ran to the showers nearby and enjoyed a warm douse. We went back to a campsite full of half-asleep Habs boys, who weren’t ready for the day ahead. I was feeling fairly good about myself – maybe it was the fact that it was my birthday that day or because of the wonderful shower I had just had. Either way, I got a great chance to just sit and appreciate the wonders of nature: the lush green grass along with the sorrowful singing of the sparrows.

Everything was tranquil at 6:00am in the morning, however five hours later, I was taking part in an activity called gorge scrambling. Before this trip, I hadn’t the slightest clue about gorge scrambling but when Mr Teague told me it was ‘jumping off waterfalls’ my heart froze.

Imagine crawling through and under a waterfall, with water smashing on your helmet and subsequently having to jump off into the cold water. Somehow, I got through this and I found jumping into the water extremely exhilarating. I can vividly remember the feeling of achievement and satisfaction as I jumped into the water and I look back fondly on all the memories of the OL trip to Wales last year.

RAUNAK KHANDUJA, Y11

Obstacle Course The obstacle course is one which brings back a lot of memories. I fondly remember the competition between my team and the other about who could get around the course the fastest.

The thrill of completing it under timed conditions ensured some great fun.

However, it also ensured that there was a great amount of team effort.

We bonded as a team as we were confronted by obstacles that could only be completed if everyone worked together and that we did. Whether it was the wall, where I was lifting up all of my team members, or drawing back the zip line near the finish, the obstacle course ensured that we as a group became closer together and understood each other’s strengths and weaknesses. When completing an expedition this is of paramount importance, as if the team is not in sync, it cannot function, and the result would be miserable.

KRISH CHADHA, Y11

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March Field Day - Wales This had been my most anticipated trip for the past two years. Each year the whole Outdoor Leadership cohort goes to Wales for two nights and three days and faces a wide variety of activities. We travelled, by minibus, to a very wet part of Wales known as Dol-Y-Gaer. I have been mentioning throughout this section about my favourite memories, however, this trip is my favourite and is the source of countless memories, from conquering fears to jumping into rivers. This year I had the pleasure of camping for two nights, in the rain and snow; although not the best conditions, the activities were remarkable. I completed a day of canoeing and a day of mountain biking.

The activities were amazing, but were only further improved by the incredible landscapes of the Welsh highlands. My favourite memory was mountain biking,

as we cycled down a mountain for 10 miles surrounded by some incredible landscapes, to a McDonald’s. Outdoor Leadership has played a huge part in the shaping of my character, as well as providing me with some hugely important outdoors skills, which has led to the creation of some incredible memories. I would like to thank all of the Outdoor Leadership staff for running such an important section of the School.

The U6 also took part in the March Field Day. On the first day we were shown how to paddle board and cave in preparation for an intense orienteering challenge against the L6. Unfortunately, on a technicality, we lost – well done L6.

KRISH CHADHA, Y11 AND DANIEL MCCABE, U6

COMBINED CADET FORCE (CCF)

COMBINED CADET FORCE (CCF) Tri-Service Review – A Year to Remember!

It may be a common cliché but this year has flown by with a vast array of exciting, challenging and prestigious events taking up the CCF calendar. We have seen the Contingent come together over numerous occasions; a highlight being at the Cenotaph with all three sections led by Lt Cdr Hardman, a huge figure in the CCF with over 25 years of loyal service, and RQMC Sandercock – our very patient SSI. The legacy of this oncein-a-lifetime event can be seen through the Tri-Service Ceremonial Team, which has been run by the senior cadets of the Contingent this year.

The position of Contingent Senior Cadet (long-held by the Army Section!) has given me a great insight into how all three Sections of the Contingent make Habs CCF the great institution that it is.

From my early days as a junior cadet, I was convinced no other Section could be better than the Navy; with shooting, bushcraft and sailing soothing our lust for action and adventure. After this year, however, that opinion has changed somewhat; the Navy will always be closest to my heart but both the Army and the RAF do succeed in allowing their respective cadets to develop and leave as fully-fledged young men ready to face the world.

The year started in June 2017, with the nostalgic annual reunion dinner at the RAF Club in Piccadilly where Col Murdo Urquhart, Chief Executive of the Combined Cadet Force Association provided past cadets and my fellow senior cadets a great insight into the importance of CCF contingents in schools. Following this, September was an eye-opener for all of us with the amount of responsibility that was placed on our shoulders to ensure the activities on Friday were well planned and enjoyable for the juniors.

From a contingent perspective, training has seen a significant improvement over the last year with both SNCOs and Staff Officers clearly displaying their passion and desire to ensure their cadets gain something beneficial from their time in the CCF. The fruits of their labour can be seen in the superb Field Days the CCF continues to run and the results of promotional exams. To name a few highlights: the Navy Section at Ampthill; the Army Section’s annual summer camp and their March Field Day at Barnham and the RAF at RAF Honnington.

As the year draws to a close, we also see some pivotal members of staff leave the Contingent; a huge loss will be Mr Holmes who retires this year after almost 30 years of loyal service to the Contingent, as the Head of the Navy Section, as a Staff Officer and as a Civilian Instructor.

Lt Hall, another heavyweight of the Navy Section has stepped down as Staff Officer temporarily, but I do hope he returns soon as his presentations on Trafalgar Night are not to be missed! Nonetheless, we see some new additions with 2Lt McLarin, Mr Baird and Miss Hooker joining the ranks of the Army Section and Mr Redfern, who is on track to gaining his commission as an SLt, joining the Navy Section.

On behalf of my fellow senior cadets, I would like to express my sincerest thanks to all staff who are involved in the CCF and have given us memories to last a lifetime.

In particular, Lt Col Woodall who has loyally stood by the Contingent and run a successful DofE programme for four years now, on top of organising some fabulous Field Days and summer camps for the Army Section. The Heads of Section continue to be pivotal to the planning of activities, so I salute Lt Chapman, Capt Gannarelli, Flt Lt Stiff and Plt Off Pearson; since they generously give up so much of their own time whilst maintaining a full academic timetable.

I wish next year’s Contingent Senior Cadet and his SNCO team the best of luck and hope they gain as much from their roles as I did. We press on to the Biennial Inspection and Tower Dinner 2018!

CADET WARRANT OFFICER PURUSOTHA THAMBIAYAH, U6

Cenotaph Parade in Whitehall The Habs CCF Contingent was selected from all the Combined Cadet Forces in the country to represent the Cadet Force Organisation at the Remembrance Sunday march-past of the Cenotaph.

Many months of commitment and hard work, improving our drill, turnout and teamwork all came together on 12 November 2017, when we performed our

march. The morning was freezing, with a chilling wind blowing through the streets of London. Led by Lt Cdr Hardman and under the watchful eye of RQMC (SSI) Sandercock, we marched past the Cenotaph, saluting the monument itself, and then an array of top brass and dignitaries to the rousing march of the British Grenadiers, played by the Household Division Band. The pressure

was felt by all that day, because as well as being on live television, we had the watchful eyes of Her Majesty The Queen on us, from high above on the balcony of the Foreign Office!

After marching past the Cenotaph, we continued up towards St James’s Park, where we gave an ‘eyes right’ to Prince Edward, who took our salute graciously.

It was a momentous occasion; to be part of such a prestigious march was an honour for all of those involved and personally, it’ll be something I will remember for years to come. On behalf of the CCF Cenotaph Drill Team, my thanks go to Lt Cdr Hardman, Lt Col Woodall and RQMC (SSI) Sandercock for their excellent training and patience with us all!

CADET CORPORAL KIELAN SHEARD, Y11 Skylark 2017/18 ~ 99

COMBINED CADET FORCE (CCF)

Army Field Day The Field Day on 6 October 2017 commenced with us all packing ourselves and our kitbags into a coach for a relatively restful time before arriving at our base in Bramley. After unloading the kit from the coach, we had our first exertion with a march of just over two miles to our base.

At the base, we were split into six sections and army rations were issued.

Then came the culinary delights of army rations when we each cooked our food and enjoyed our first army meal of the day.

We had the luxury of spending the night in an aircraft hangar. It might not seem luxurious, but it has the huge advantage of being dry and sheltered from the elements, though nothing can shelter you from the nocturnal noises of your fellow cadets. Lights out was at 11:00pm.

The following morning began at the crack of dawn to cook breakfast with our army rations, then packing up, before beginning our six exercises, which each section completed in rotation.

They were: •J udging distances – this exercise worked on judging the size of objects at different distances so rifles could be adjusted accordingly; •F ield formations – this had us practise how to march as a unit and as a patrol and what to do if we came under fire; •T arget practice – for this we were given paintball guns and had to eliminate targets in a forest;

•C amouflage – for this we had to disguise ourselves in the forest, remaining hidden as the patrol went through; •S etting up bashas – here we learned essential skills for the next Field Day, which was to be without the luxury of a hangar but with only the protection of a basha for the night.

After this packed itinerary, we were all grateful for a comfortable seat on the coach back to school.

CADET FREDERICK BROOMHEAD, Y10

•F irst aid – an activity involving a hostile building with an injured soldier inside.

Each section had to attempt to rescue them whilst coming under attack;

Year 11 Field Day The Army Section deployed onto the Bramley Training Area (near Basingstoke) as part of the termly Field Exercise. We had an exciting training programme in front of us – for the Year 10s, this was to be their first real taster of Army Section Field Exercises. Their training consisted of an action-packed

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24 hours – with training ranging from paintball (to hone their close quarters battle skills) to learning life-saving first aid and learning how to prepare rations, led by some of the finest L6 cadets.

Year 11 also had an exciting order of events. They deployed onto the training area in the dark and were ordered (under the watchful eyes of their Platoon Commander, Sergeant and Section Commanders) to occupy a harbour area in the dead of night – with the ‘enemy’ in the vicinity. After a sleepless night, the Year 11s moved on to putting skills attained on Army Summer Camp into practice in the form of a Section Attack – which was led by Lt Col Woodall and

the respective Section Commander (in the case of my group, myself) in which we were ordered to assault the ‘enemy’ who were in fact our U6 SNCOs! Year 11 also got to hone their soldiering skills in a Sniper Stalk, as well as learning and applying tactics for an ambush, all of which entailed firing blanks from our rifles – for which we had undergone a rigorous battery of tests to fire!

Field Day was highly enjoyable and, on behalf of the Army Section, thank you to Lt Col Woodall, Capt Gannarelli and all the other staff and SNCOs involved.

CADET CORPORAL KIELAN SHEARD, Y11

COMBINED CADET FORCE (CCF)

Army Summer Camp Had you been in the coach park of Habs at 9:00am on 8 July 2017, you would have witnessed a troop of excited young men, many eager to attend their firstever camp. We all boarded the coach and settled in for our four-hour journey to Nesscliffe with Cdt LCpl Igor Kaspin’s (11S1) charismatic music keeping us going. On arrival at Nesscliffe we were surprised to be met by clear skies and a warm breeze. Boosted by this, we settled into our accommodation and prepared ourselves for the week ahead. Over the next seven days we faced many different trials which were, to say the least, challenging at times; however, the good old Habs spirit would prevail.

On our first day of camp we were split into sections and followed a rotation of the WWI history stand, the 25 metre range (L98 A2 rifle), the No. 8 rifle range, the Scorpion air rifle, the weapons stand and the Dismounted Close Combat Trainer range. For many cadets it was

a real insight into why they picked the Army Section in the first place. For some, the ranges really highlighted hidden talents; Cdt LCpl Aryan Amipara (11S1) scoring 45 on the 25 metre range came top of our contingent.

Over the next two days we conducted Training In Built Up Areas (TIBUA) which consisted of a squad of four cadets conducting clearing exercises on buildings, Vehicle Checkpoint (VCP) training, consisting of sections actively stopping cars, searching for enemies, and a great adventurous training program, consisting of canoeing, laser tag and caving where Habs’ colours really started to shine with the team of Cdt CSM James Davis (U6H2), Cdt LCpl Jamie Ellisson (L6H1) and Cdt CSgt Danial Surti (L6S2) breaking the record time for caving and our very own 2Lt Fyfe bossing a whole team in laser tag. As we returned from camp exhausted from our action-packed day, Cdt RSM Animesh Misra (U6J1) pointed out that tomorrow would be our contingent exercise – this led to a frantic packing of kit into bergens and of course realising that half of the contingent had forgotten their jungle hats – nevertheless we settled down to an early night’s sleep knowing that we wouldn’t be getting any more from tomorrow morning onwards.

The next day we awoke to a rather damp and cold morning. However, with our kit packed, we set out on our two-mile tab observing tactical silence throughout, but, knowing Habs boys, this was hard to achieve at times. Unfortunately, soon we sustained our first casualty of the day that being Cdt LCpl Enuka Balasuriya (11J1); we nevertheless carried on to our harbour site. On the way Cdt RSM Misra suspected the enemy were following us so we quickly deployed a snap ambush

really proving to our officers that those Friday nights in the classrooms were worth it. Next, we entered our harbour area, set up sentry positions and were sent out on our reconnaissance to gather information about the enemy location.

Once we had returned, Capt Gannarelli pointed out that unlike every single Field Day in the history of Habs CCF, our sentries might come in handy so we should ensure they were taken seriously.

To my surprise at 4:30am my post was attacked by Oswestry School, leading to a hasty retreat and counter-attack – something none of the cadets will ever forget. After our victory we marched back to camp and were greeted by a hot breakfast, a great morale booster. This was further added to by our crack 10man squad which made it to the finals of the tug of war, only losing to a school from Manchester.

We finished off camp with an awards ceremony in which many cadets were awarded for their skills including Cdt CSM Dhillon Selvarajah (L6M2) for his sharpshooting and both myself and Cdt CSM Kishan Ganatra (L6M1) awarded best junior and senior cadet respectively.

Special thanks must go Lt Col Woodall, RQMC (SSI) Sandercock, Capt Gannarelli and 2Lt Fyfe without whom this amazing camp would not be possible.

CADET CORPORAL AYAAN LATIF, Y11

Drill training with CPO Voller and CPO Legge The thrill of drill (it’s brill!): love it or hate it, drill is certainly a big part of the Navy.

The CCF this year has been blessed with many opportunities to perfect its drill, in particular for the Cenotaph Parade and the upcoming Ceremonial Team for the Biennial Inspection. As Cdt CPO, it was my dream to see cadets become confident with the basic drill and to see people who hadn’t previously enjoyed it now see the satisfaction that comes from a drill squad marching perfectly in time.

When CPO Nikki Voller came in to run our Whole Section drill session I don’t think I quite managed to contain my excitement – so much so I was speaking

about it for weeks afterwards! It’s been a pleasure to lead under Cdt WO Jamie Slagel (U6J2) this year and I look forward to seeing where the new SNCOs will take the Section next year.

CADET CHIEF PETTY OFFICER ETIENNE DEAN, U6 The Section was honoured to host CPO Nikki Voller and CPO Steve Legge who spent the afternoon delivering some inspirational guidance to cadets of all ranks, bringing the whole Section together to work on their drill. The improvement was astonishing, and

by the end of the session, the entire Section was manoeuvring in perfect unison to the commands of the older cadets. It was fascinating to hear stories about how CPO Voller runs her drill sessions, training Royal Navy personnel to parade in front of The Queen and other high-ranking dignitaries. It was definitely worth braving the cold to take part, and the Section is eager for some more next year!

CADET PETTY OFFICER RISHI-NAYAN VARODARIA, U6

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COMBINED CADET FORCE (CCF)

Field Day at Ampthill Filled with excitement we all prepped our kit, packed our bags and donned our walking gear as we got ready. On 8 - 9 March 2018, the whole of Habs Royal Navy Section went to Ampthill, near Bedfordshire, as part of a revival of an old Habs CCF tradition. Lessons felt slightly longer than ever as anticipation for Ampthill began. By 5:30pm, the boys were buzzing and more than ready to get going! We left in two groups, the first coach departing Habs at 5:45pm, and were dropped off at the four drop-off points en route to Ampthill just as darkness had descended. Each group composed of six to eight Navy cadets from across the year groups was accompanied by an U6 member in charge of ensuring that no group strayed off from their path as they walked for one to two hours from their drop-off to the Ampthill HQ central. At HQ, the Habs staff were preparing our camp lights, gazebo, tents and equipment ready for almost 24 hours of fun-filled Navy activities and teamwork. Just as the first group had alighted the coach, ready to walk in the ever-so-slightly chilly conditions, the second group climbed onto theirs, preparing for the hour-long journey to Ampthill and the walk ahead.

The Navy cadets, ranging from Year 10 to U6, were tasked with using their planned routes and walking to the camp five to eight kilometres away. Left with almost everything they’d require for that night and the following day, they walked with backpacks, plenty of snacks and warm kit, and off their own bat, passed through one checkpoint and arrived at Ampthill camp; the final two walking groups reaching camp at about 10:00pm, an hour and a half after drop-off. For

those entering the camp, tired after a two-hour walk, they could literally see the light – the light of Cdt CPO Etienne Dean’s (U6M1) and Cdt WO Jamie Slagel’s (U6J2) so-called ‘party tent’ which was lit up by fairy lights and a USB disco light. The evening was spent erecting tents, cooking meals and getting ready for camp. Highlights for dinner included one cadet, OC Shivansh Prasad (10R1), who brought spitroasted and marinated lamb and Ab Cdt2 Dan Gilbey (L6S1), whose ambitious plans for tuna nicoise did not quite come to fruition. Even if some cadets stuck to less exuberant dinners, everyone was fed and watered by bed time.

Awoken early in the morning, cadets slowly rose out of bed (with the exception of a certain two cadets who opted instead for breakfast in bed) to the promise of boiled eggs, hot chocolate and, in the case of Cdt WO Purusotha Thambiayah (U6H1) and PO Kyal Pindolia (U6S2), noodles, bacon and buns.

Breakfast was swiftly followed by the start of activities – Practical Leadership Tasks (PLTs) led by the L6 cadets. Each of the walking groups had a go at each of the PLTs, which included ‘drop the egg’, an interactive obstacle course, lots of blindfolds and plenty of thrown tennis balls – and much, much more. Whilst the L6 practised their leadership skills, the other cadets worked on their teamwork skills, cementing friendships they had developed from the previous day. It was a fantastic experience of bonding with each other and having a go at innovative activities coined by the L6 over the past few weeks. Everyone had a highly enjoyable time during the activities while developing their own communicative,

organisational and teamwork skills which was extremely rewarding, particularly while outside in fantastic weather conditions.

After activities finished, it was time for a quick lunch, featuring the rest of the L6 cadets’ unused hard-boiled eggs, and time to take down tents. Led by the L6, the tents and other equipment came down as quickly as they’d been put up and a litter search was conducted. Finally, the results were in and awards handed out! We all had the most amazing time and it was a great way to end our Ampthill career for the Sixth Form, and particularly a great send-off for the U6, for whom this was their last Field Day. On behalf of every cadet on the trip, I’d like to thank all the staff from the Navy Section and Habs who accompanied us on the trip and particularly Lt Chapman for organising the trip. Moreover, I’d like to give special thanks to Mr Holmes who accompanied us on Thursday evening (and left before 6:00am on Friday morning) for going out of his way to spend his time with us, and we hope that this was a highly enjoyable final Ampthill for Mr Holmes.

Thank you very much to all involved, and I look forward to my final few months or so in the Habs Navy Section!

CADET WARRANT OFFICER JAMIE SLAGEL, U6 102 ~ Skylark 2017/18

COMBINED CADET FORCE (CCF)

Getting Promoted Isle of Skye Sail in the Navy Section The crucial elements of any good Throughout the year, you are taught many new skills in the Navy Section. These all contribute towards your promotion at the time of the test. There are three things required to get promoted: commitment, the written test and the swim test. Commitment is about giving those Friday afternoon sessions your all, and getting stuck in. The swim test is the next step to getting promoted, and that involves getting in the pool with your No. 4 trousers on over your swimming trunks. You have to prove that you can take off the trousers in the pool and use them as a life jacket. It is great fun to do and is a valuable life skill. The final part of promotion is the written test, which takes place on one of the Friday afternoons. It covers everything that you learn over the course of the year, so it is a good idea to pay attention. There are different tests for each rank and passing them is quite difficult – revising is quite useful. If you pass all three sections, then you can get promoted and progress through the ranks.

ABLE CADET TWO STAR DANIEL LOVELESS, Y10 Getting promoted in the Navy Section is extremely rewarding and simple to achieve. During CCF in the autumn term, all cadets from Years 10 and 11 and some cadets from L6 learn certain topics about the Royal Navy, such as knotting or communications (Morse Code and the NATO Phonetic Alphabet), starting off with some information and note-taking, but then using what has been learned to play fun games and test your knowledge.

All of these topics are taught to us by the senior cadets in the Sixth Form. A multiple choice written test is given to check you have taken in all the different information from the different topics and if this test is passed, it is just the swim test left to be completed. The swim test is when a cadet must swim a few lengths of the swimming pool in their activity trousers and then inflate the trousers into an airbag by tying the legs together, tightening the waist elastic and blowing into them. Once the written test, swim test and of course regular attendance to CCF (and an RYA sailing course) are all passed you are ready to be promoted.

The promotion includes new rank slides which can be worn on the shoulders of the uniform and a title, starting from Ordinary Cadet up to Able Cadets One Star, Two Star and Three Star and Petty Officer in U6. Each year, you have countless opportunities to be promoted to the next rank, and when you do, it gives you a sense of pride and honour.

ABLE CADET TWO STAR NIKHIL-MANAV VARODARIA, Y11

holiday are fun and relaxation, and in my opinion, one of the best combinations of these two is sailing. That is why, last summer Cdt WO Purusotha Thambiayah (U6H1) and I decided to take part in a sail around the Isle of Skye with the Royal Navy. It was one of the most amazing trips I’ve ever been on. There’s nothing quite like speeding across the water, with a clear sky above, and not a care in the world. Every day was a new experience, and brought new sights to see, such as the ancient Scottish castle of Eilean Donan, or the magnificent views of the Skye Bridge from the viewpoint at the top of Kyle of Lochalsh. Over the course of the trip, I went from having never set foot on a yacht, to being able to confidently plot a course and sail it.

By the end of the trip, our whole crew had completed the RYA Competent Crew qualification. I also met some amazing people, most of whom I am still in touch with today. So to anyone out there seeking adventure, or anyone who just wants to try something new this summer, get on a Navy course. You will not regret it.

ABLE CADET TWO STAR ARYAMAN JHUNJHUNWALA, L6

Leadership Course at HMS Raleigh Being part of the School’s Navy Section has given me a plethora of amazing opportunities I just would not be able to get elsewhere. One of the most notable and memorable experiences was my leadership course at HMS Raleigh last summer. I booked myself onto the course, took a long train journey to exotic Plymouth, from where I travelled to the naval base. From then on, I had one of the most exciting and enjoyable weeks of my entire summer. The name mustn’t fool you, it wasn’t some boring

leadership course where you just sat and learned. No, it was a week filled with practical tasks, debates and a healthy amount of marching and drill. As this was on the UK’s largest naval training facility, we were given the rare opportunity to have fun on the Damage Repair Instructional Unit (DRUI) simulator. A simulator of a Royal Navy boat starts flooding; it’s then your job as a team to seal up the leaks as quickly as possible before the water level rises too high. All this had to be completed in darkness whilst being jostled backwards and forwards. It was utterly terrifying but an exhilarating and adrenaline pumping experience and was one of those moments only possible with the Royal Navy. However, by far the best bit of the weekend away was the people I met. This was just one of the many moments of my CCF Navy Section experience that I will never forget.

ABLE CADET TWO STAR HUBERT BIALEK, L6

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COMBINED CADET FORCE (CCF)

Field Day Visit to Greenwich It was wonderful to spend time with a small group of cadets at Greenwich, starting off with a tour of the Observatory Museum. Mr Holmes encountered an old friend who was now managing the Museum, which was a nice surprise. With a beautiful sunny day ahead of us, looking out over the Park, we saw the incredible National Maritime Museum, where we visited the exclusive ‘Death in the Ice’ exhibition, which was a truly intriguing experience. Finishing off the day by going aboard the Cutty Sark was extremely memorable, as we saw the inside workings of the internationally renowned tea clipper and learned what life would have been like on board. The whole group was immensely grateful to Mr Holmes and SLt Gauntlett for accompanying us on such an eyeopening adventure!

CADET PETTY OFFICER RISHI-NAYAN VARODARIA, U6

Remembrance at the Cenotaph Arriving in the coach park at 6:45am on 12 November 2017 will forever stick in my mind as one of the greatest days I’ve experienced at Habs. To be greeted by your fellow cadets with whom you have been rehearsing for this day for months was a moment I was never going to forget. We boarded the coach with Lt Cdr Hardman and RQMC (SSI) Sandercock ready to go to Trafalgar Square. As we walked as a group through the centre of London to the back of Whitehall, we were surrounded by veterans from all walks of life and services in the armed forces which felt surreal; to see the men who had fought in the uniform which we wear every Friday. We formed up on Whitehall by Horse Guards Parade and, while shivering from the winds, we listened to the service taking place at the Cenotaph. As the service drew to a close we came to attention to hear the Last Post in absolute silence, surrounded by thousands of onlookers behind the barriers. Finally, once the service had finished, we stepped off to march down the Cenotaph and down to Horse Guards Parade. The feeling of

immense pride to be representing not only Habs, but all the CCF contingents, was overwhelming as we marched to the beat of the band playing behind the Cenotaph. As we continued to march, we marched passed Navy Seamen, the Irish Guards and Royal Marines alike, with the November sun shining over Big Ben all the while. As we marched along Birdcage Walk we were met with applause and cheers from the crowd as we then went past Prince Edward, Earl of Wessex, and the then new Secretary of State for Defence, Gavin Williamson CBE MP, to then finally form up on Horse Guards Parade to stand to attention for the National Anthem as Prince Edward departed. That day will always be one of my highlights throughout my whole time at Habs and I can’t wait for many more experiences in the CCF to come.

ABLE CADET TWO STAR EDWARD ISAACS, Y11

RYA Level 2 Powerboating Course Last summer I participated in a powerboating course at Britannia Royal Naval College (BRNC) and earned my Level 2 Powerboat Licence. This was my second year spending the week at Dartmouth and, although I didn’t think that it could be possible, I enjoyed it even more! BRNC is the quintessential Navy experience, and all commissioned Navy officers pass through its halls as part of their education. The week is spent, for the most part, doing the activity one has signed up to do; in my case powerboating and earning my powerboating licence. However, each morning, after an early march down from Hardy block to breakfast, and a quick (but very filling) breakfast, all the people from across the six or seven courses on offer at BRNC came together to practise for the drill performance we would be putting on for loved ones and Royal Navy officers later that week. Doing drill as part of a 200-strong parade is extremely rewarding and seeing the very high standard of marching created by this is very enjoyable – particularly when 104 ~ Skylark 2017/18

it’s sunny and with the music of the band. After that, we would march down to the boathouse, do some theory work and then get out in the boats! Since we were with the Royal Navy and its chief powerboating instructor, we had the best of every world: an extremely able and experienced instructor, loads of boats and fantastic waters! We were able to practice not only in motor whalers, but also in RIBs, dory boats, picket boats and were also given complimentary rides in the brand-new, state-of-the-art, front-line, waterjet-powered PAC 24s.

This gave us plenty of experience in many different boats, and we learned all sorts of skills – boat control, stemming a buoy, reversing, coming onto a jetty and anchoring. The week was extremely enjoyable, with our trip into the ocean with the PAC 24s (at 75km/h!) and our trip to the local town for ice cream and chips being particular favourites.

Having a full week, rather than the normal two- or three-day courses, meant that we had a lot of time to experiment, have fun and try out some bigger

and faster boats. Moreover, outside our powerboating, BRNC provided a great time – ‘Sully’ for a film night (the connection to the Navy is somewhat tenuous…), a pub quiz (which I won with some of my powerboating team) and, of course, the mess dinner, with the special guest being a Vice-Admiral!

I got to meet, shake hands with, get photographed with and speak to the Vice-Admiral and even got to present a video I made about our powerboating course to the Vice-Admiral and Lieutenant Colonel of the Royal Marines.

Our mess dinner was an amazing affair, with a delicious dinner provided, fantastic company, great Navy traditions and of course the ever-fantastic band playing in the background, all for our enjoyment, topped off with some sea shanties! I loved every moment of my BRNC powerboating course, and also gained my Level 2 Powerboat Licence, which I have to put to use in school sailing sessions!

CADET WARRANT OFFICER JAMIE SLAGEL, U6

COMBINED CADET FORCE (CCF)

Summer Sailing Course It was so rewarding to see so many of the Year 10 cadets, with little or no experience of sailing, progress to achieve their RYA Level 1 or Level 2 sailing awards. A key component of CCF sessions in the summer, it is essential that boys know the basics of sailing,

which enables them to take part in the trips to Datchet Water, Queen Mary Reservoir and even Rockley Point! The weather stayed calm for the duration of the course and the cadets really enjoyed letting off some steam at the end of the year and starting their holiday with

a comprehensive introduction to an exciting new sport for them!

CADET PETTY OFFICER RISHI-NAYAN VARODARIA, U6

Windsurfing at HOAC Over the last two years, 15 of the newest cadets in the Section have spent a Saturday morning in September braving the cold at Hillingdon Outdoor Activities Centre, to learn some of the basics of windsurfing. They approached it with great enthusiasm, and after lots of falling in, everyone made some progress with their windsurfing ability! A fun time was had by all and there were many cadets keen to try windsurfing again.

CADET PETTY OFFICER RISHI-NAYAN VARODARIA, U6

SNCO Tower Dinner

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COMBINED CADET FORCE (CCF)

Field Day at Queen Mary Reservoir

Mr Holmes in the CCF It is, quite simply, impossible to overstate the importance of Mr Holmes’ contribution to Habs CCF Royal Navy (RN) Section. Not only did he lead the CCF RN Section for a great many years, he has continued to serve with ceaseless energy, enthusiasm and commitment since stepping down from that role. During my own 10 years with the CCF RN Section I have grown to assume that Mr Holmes will always be able to find a solution, whatever the problem or challenge.

So many examples of the magic of Mr Holmes spring to mind:

Field Day at Datchet

His insistence on wearing shorts whilst accompanying me (wearing every item of clothing I possessed) for a 5:30am camp inspection in the deep snow at Otterburn.

The way he delights in conjuring up the most delicious staff meals in the wilderness, and the life-saving fish and chip suppers he has supplied to those freezing whilst on checkpoint duty at Ampthill.

The great care that he takes to ensure that every cadet has a good tot of his own secret-recipe warm brew to toast the ‘Immortal Memory’ each year.

Mr Holmes is, in every sense, the personification of the highest traditions of the Royal Navy Cadet Force. He has inspired, quite literally, thousands of cadets during his career at Habs, and will live forever in the history books of our famous CCF RN Section.

Some aspects of the Holmes magic are, however, impossible to codify or to learn. These include the selfless way in which he quietly supported and encouraged me during the three years

LIEUTENANT G HALL (ON BEHALF OF THE HABS CCF ROYAL NAVY SECTION STAFF OFFICERS)

RN Obstacle Course Team

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in which I led the CCF RN Section, the panache and pure ‘good form’ which he exemplifies during any CCF RN activity and the way in which he puts the interests of the cadets front of mind, whatever the cost to his comfort or, at times, to his personal safety.

COMBINED CADET FORCE (CCF)

RAF Report This year, the CCF RAF Section has enjoyed new challenges and a new dawn as the RAF Air Cadet HQ continue to redevelop their CCF provision, and we continue to redevelop our curriculum of training. Under the experienced eyes of Flt Lt Stiff, ably supported by Fg Off Oldfield and Plt Off Pearson, this year’s Senior Cadets: Cdt Fsgt Mark Voslinsky (U6J1), Cdt Sgt Abbas Kermalli (U6R1), and Cdt Sgt Tanay Dongre (U6J1) have led an exciting and stimulating programme of activities, training and trips to enthuse our new generation of air cadets.

Looking way back to the summer term of 2017, the Year 10 and 12 cadets travelled to RAF Benson for some flying experience in the RAF’s Grob Tutor plane with No.6 Air Experience Flight (6 AEF) on the June Field Day. The cadets enjoyed the opportunity to have a go at controlling and manoeuvring the aircraft, as well as experiencing loop-the-loops, barrel rolls and stall turns at the hands of the professional pilots. A few months later, in October, we would once again return to 6 AEF for Field Day, this time with Years 11 and 13. During this visit, we also got the opportunity to look round one of the Chinook helicopters on the base and learn about its capabilities and uses. All of the regular RAF crew at Benson were extremely helpful and knowledgeable, and the cadets had a wonderful time on both visits.

The new school year also brought with it a packed agenda of activities for Friday training, including First Aid, air rifle shooting, skill at arms training, leadership tasks, flight simulators, drill and radio communications. Irrespective of their year group, rank or the (often challenging) weather conditions, every RAF cadet has thrown themselves into these activities with enthusiasm and vigour. The year will culminate in many of the cadets attempting to use what they’ve learned during our Friday sessions to pass their respective qualifications and become First Class, Leading and Senior Cadets.

The autumn Field Day also saw the new Year 10 cadets travelling to the RAF Museum and the Battle of Britain Museum to expand their knowledge of the RAF and its history, and in this 100th anniversary year for the Royal Air Force, the Section has forged stronger links with the RAF Museum in particular as some of our cadets were invited to go along and advance test some of the new exhibits being unveiled this summer as part of the centenary celebrations.

The feedback we have received from these visits is that the cadets’ input was invaluable, and we are delighted to

have been a part of such an important element of the RAF 100.

Moving into the New Year brought significant new challenges for the RAF cadets. The L6 cadets began the year by undertaking their training to become instructors for the younger cadets, getting to grips with the trials and tribulations of teaching a room full of boisterous Year 10s! As the term progressed, however, and we started to look towards Field Day, the Year 10, 12 and 13 cadets turned their attention in earnest to the techniques of bushcraft.

They learned knife skills, fire-lighting, shelter-building and survival priorities in preparation for their trip to RAF Barnham where they were challenged with building makeshift shelters and cooking their own food on the wild training area there, before tucking down for a night of rough camping. The following day, they awoke to a beautiful, crisp March morning, and embarked on some more survival and bushcraft lessons before returning to Habs for some well-earned rest. This was a bold endeavour from the RAF Section, as it was the first time for a while that a Field Day had actually taken them into the field, but I’m pleased to report it was a resounding success; all cadets stayed dry and thoroughly enjoyed themselves, and there was a palpable sense of pride in their achievement of constructing their own tents from nothing but a few scraps of tarpaulin and some string!

Meanwhile, the Year 11 cadets continued their skill at arms training in preparation for their own Field Day at RAF Honington: the home of the RAF Regiment (the Royal Air Force’s ground troops).

Here, they spent some time with the Regiment, learning about their proud history and trying out some of their CBRN (chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear) containment equipment for themselves, before moving on to put their marksmanship skills to the test on Honington’s Dismounted Close Combat Trainer shooting range and got a chance to handle some of the weapons used by the RAF Regiment. This was the perfect culmination to their weapons training, and we’re hoping they can transfer these skills to some of the ranges on RAF Summer Camp this year.

to, with the Year 10 students heading to Duxford to experience a flight in a vintage Dragon Rapide, and the L6 cadets travelling to Surrey for a gliding experience. All being well, this will mean all cadets in the RAF have had the chance to experience some flying before the end of the year which is fantastic for the Section!

Finally, we’re also extremely proud to have had two senior cadets – Cdt Sgt Sam Pfeffer-Matthews (L6H2) and Cdt Sgt Armaan Bajaj (L6J1) – accepted onto the Air Cadet Leadership Course this year, held centrally at RAF Cranwell.

Again, this is the first time for a few years we have sent anyone on this course and we wish them the best of luck as they learn new skills and gain vital leadership experience to prepare them for taking charge of the Section next year.

So, I sign off with things looking decidedly positive for the RAF Section.

We have an extremely strong group of SNCOs coming through the ranks from the L6 into the U6 for next year, and we’ve also recruited the services of a new officer in Miss Hooker, and a new Head of Section taking over from Flt Lt Stiff in Plt Off Pearson. This provides a really strong platform from which to grow the Section and take it to new heights, which seems rather appropriate, in this new era for the Air Cadets. The sky is quite literally the limit.

PILOT OFFICER A PEARSON

Looking ahead to the end of the year, we have two exciting Field Day trips to look forward Skylark 2017/18 ~ 107

COMBINED CADET FORCE (CCF)

Field Day at RAF Barnham On 8 – 9 March 2018, Years 10, 12 and 13 of the RAF Section went for an overnight trip to RAF Barnham, in Thetford. The aim of the Field Day was to train and test the selfsufficiency of cadets, who were split into the four flights we had been assigned to. We arrived at the campsite at approximately 8:30pm.

We then had time to unpack, make our food using our Trangias and build shelters out of tarpaulin. The shelters had to be weather-resistant and although it didn’t rain, the night had lows of 2C, which meant that 108 ~ Skylark 2017/18

our shelters had to be able to keep out any cold winds if we didn’t want a freezing night. Then we had an early start, waking up at 6:00am.

Two hours later, having eaten breakfast and packed away our kit and shelters, we started the day’s activities with a short presentation on knife safety and knife law.

Then we split up into our flights and carried out survival activities, which included learning how to effectively light a fire, camouflage and concealment techniques, how to create traps and snares to catch

food and the priorities in a survival situation. Overall, it was a challenging experience, particularly for the Year 10s who were new to the RAF, but it was an extremely informative one and taught us a lot that we didn’t know before. Thanks must go to Lt Col Woodall and Plt Off Pearson for organising the trip and to Miss Hooker, for accompanying us alongside Plt Off Pearson.

CADET KRISH NANAVATI, Y10

COMMUNITY

Without any doubt, what makes Habs so special is its community. One day, I suppose we will all look back upon our school days and, above anything else, remember the people that made our time there what it was. This is why it is so important that we keep in touch; from reliving some of our favourite moments from our time at Habs to celebrating the outstanding achievements earned by some of our number, we would not be who we are without our community. Over the last year, we have shared fantastic memories across a range of reunions in a range of cities across the world, from Tel Aviv to New York. We have shared our personal memories over generations of OHs from those at the 1967 Prep Reunion to the recent attendees from the Class of 2013. Compiling and editing this section made me realise just how much I am going to miss Habs when I leave and allowed me to discover some of the fantastic things OHs have gone on to do with their lives after leaving which serves as an inspiration to us all.

VIRAJ SHAH, L6

IN THIS SECTION OH Reunions Old Haberdashers Visit MedSoc Andrew Miller & Christopher Watts Visit Matt Lucas & Ashley Blaker Visit Founder’s Evening Telephone Campaign Supplementary Information

110 112 112 113 113 113 113

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COMMUNITY

OH REUNIONS Pre-1961 Reunion 5 March 2018 saw a fantastic turn out of Old Boys for the School’s first Pre1961 reunion, coming together and reacquainting with fellow pupils over 55 years since leaving school.

The Old Boys (coming from as far away as America, South Africa and Switzerland) assembled at the School in Elstree and boarded coaches to take them to Westbere Road, where they were able to visit their old school (now Hampstead School), taking fascinating tours of the original building, which, though having many rooms repurposed, still retained the old character and features which many recalled.

After the memory-provoking tour, it was back onto the coaches to return to Habs, Elstree, where reception drinks and cakes provided a much-needed energy boost whilst looking at honour boards from the period, displays of photographs of sporting teams, teachers, buildings and events, kindly provided by the Old Boys themselves and an amazing collection of items provided by the Archive team including school caps, sporting awards, homework books and report cards. Tours of the ‘new’ School were also provided by an army of current pupils, each revelling in hearing the fascinating tales of Westbere Road days as they moved around the campus.

A musical interlude by the impressive Habs Big Band in the Bourne Hall, provided some time to reflect on the

tour and conversations that had taken place with old friends, whilst listening to some outstanding music from the very talented boys.

Light refreshments and wine followed, providing a final opportunity for Old Boys to reconnect, sharing jokes and stories with their peers and teachers and rekindled friendships first established many years ago.

The evening was a great success, receiving much praise for both Hampstead School and The Foundation for arranging such an amazing event.

R LLEWELLYN

Boarding House Reunion On 15 July 2017 the first official Haberdashers’ Boarders Reunion took place for those Old Boys and Staff who lived in Aldenham House while the Boarding House was in operation from 1961-1983.

An afternoon of activities including visiting Tykes Water, tours of the School and the opportunity to explore once

1967 Prep Reunion The Old Refectory at Habs on 4 December 2017, was the starting location for the reunion of the Old Boys who began at the Prep School in 1967. They were welcomed with coffee and cake to warm against the winter evening, before touring the School and revisiting their old classrooms, taking in the many changes that have occurred over the past 50 years.

Stepping into the School brought back many memories – friendships were

more the inner recesses of Aldenham House were followed by a sumptuous dinner which encompassed entertaining (and hilarious) speeches by Paul Twivy (OH 1976), and former Boarding House masters Mr Keith Dawson (who later

rediscovered over stories of teachers and classroom antics, tales of success and, as expected of the younger years, a few mischievous acts. Much discussion was had as to who had set the record for the most detentions awarded in a day, though Nigel Lewis probably trumped all this with his tale of pyromania in the Art Room on the last day of term. Following the tour of the School, which left the Old Boys amazed by the standards, especially that of the Medburn Centre, which was ‘certainly an improvement on the old swimming pool’, the reunion moved to the Red Lion in Radlett, where conversations continued to flow whilst the group enjoyed a delicious buffet and drinks late into the evening.

Organised by Pete Bloom (in conjunction with The HABS Foundation), the event was a thorough success. Pete remarked, ‘It has been said, “Give me a child until he is seven and I will show you a man.” 50 years after we started at the Prep School

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returned to the School to become Headmaster) and Mr David Griffiths – who was the last Head of House before it closed in 1983.

R LLEWELLYN

at the age of seven, that quotation rings true. We may have all looked a little older, but everyone was instantly recognisable by their personality. Even the Old Prep Building (now a Tech Block) hasn’t really changed. It was a privilege and great fun to meet up with so many of my old classmates from 1967, exchanging anecdotes and indulging in glorious reminiscence. By the end of the evening that 50-year gap had simply melted away!’

Director of The HABS Foundation, Mr Llewellyn, added, ‘It was a real pleasure to welcome these young men back to the School and to walk with them around the school grounds. After the success of this event, there are already plans forming for a reunion (including former teachers) for all Old Boys who were at the Prep School when it was in the old BBC Block.

Do keep in touch with The Foundation for further news in the New Year!’

R LLEWELLYN

COMMUNITY

Class of 2008 Reunion day and a successful end to their time at the School.

Reuniting after many years can be daunting for many, but the Old Boys of 2008 greeted each other as if it were just yesterday that they celebrated their last

Coming together at The Bishop’s Finger on 13 November 2017, the Old Boys were in the presence of their former teachers, Dr Roy Sloan, Mrs Swallow and Mr Swallow, sharing jokes and stories of memorable moments from Habs. A special mention must go to Mr Hardman who, although unable to be there himself, had prepared a rousing update video message showcasing the infamous Russells House drum call.

to see if they could identify themselves or others. Robbie Phillips and Matthew Cohen were suitably impressed that they remembered the three words they each used to describe themselves as being ‘nothing too special’ and ‘humble, sculpted, worshipped’.

The evening was a huge success with our Old Boys exchanging details and vowing to remain in contact.

R LLEWELLYN

For a bit of fun, the Old Boys were shown three words that were used to describe them in the 2008 Yearbook

Class of 2013 Reunion On 20 November 2017, the Class of 2013 reunited for the first time in five years.

Getting the event off to a great start, six Old Boys kindly offered their support and shared experiences of university and industry with our current pupils, hosting a range of ‘Conversation with…’ styled discussions covering such areas as Engineering, Medicine, Business, Law, Finance and ICT. A very big thank you to JJ Dixon, Zach Freud, Michael Mahgerefteh, Max Sinclair, Daniel Lande and Luke Vaz for their support.

Kishan Ganatra (L6M1) remarked, ‘It’s brilliant to have someone like Luke come in to explain what happens and to show us the ropes. We will leave Habs soon and be in the same position that he was; I found it really helpful.’

Mrs Nash, Head of Careers said, ‘We were delighted that some of our 2013 Leavers were keen to return to the School to talk to current students about

their university experience and their first steps on the career ladder. They passed on invaluable advice to boys from Year 10 upwards who, over the next few months and years, will be making important decisions about their futures. We are always thrilled to welcome Old Haberdashers back to the School, and extremely grateful when they are able to give back to the Habs community in this way.’

An evening of reminiscences commenced at 6:00pm with over 50 Old Boys meeting in the Medburn Centre, a building not yet built when the Old Boys were last with us. Many toured the new sports facilities and revisited their old classrooms with teaching staff old and new. Mr Amlot, Mr Hardman, Miss Pindoria, Mrs Swallow, Mr Holmes and Mrs Jones were just a few of the teachers who chatted with their former pupils

throughout the evening.

The evening was a great success, with many catching up, sharing stories and laughing at memories of trips.

Former Head of Sixth Form, Mrs Pollock said, ‘It was a wonderful evening, and so good to reunite with so many of the boys, and hear of their progress since leaving the School.’

This was a truly fantastic event and thanks to all who attended.

J SUCHAK

CCF Annual Reunion Dinner The annual CCF Dinner took place on 30 June 2017 in the palatial surroundings of the RAF Club at Piccadilly. 50 former and current members of the Cadet Corps (themselves spanning 60 years of Habs boys) were treated to an excellent evening; the centrepiece of which was a superb speech given by the guest of honour Col Murdo Urquhart, Chief Executive of the Combined Cadet Force Association.

R LLEWELLYN

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COMMUNITY

New York Reunion

OLD HABERDASHERS VISIT MEDSOC On 1 December 2017, two OHs (2017) Sohum Patel and Ashvin Kuri, attended a lunchtime seminar with MedSoc to talk about their experiences of getting into medical school, and what life is like at the very beginning of medical training. Sohum is at Cambridge and Ashvin is at Queen Mary University of London.

On the evening of 22 June 2017, the Headmaster, Mr Hamilton, and Mr Llewellyn, Director of The HABS Foundation, hosted a reception in the Los Lotos Club in New York City bringing together 45 Old Haberdashers and their spouses. A very enjoyable evening was had by all, as the Headmaster was able to reflect on the School as it is today while friendships spanning over 70 years were rekindled and more recent Old Boys met for the first time since leaving the School – but many miles from Elstree!

R LLEWELLYN

Mr Holmes joined the seminar and reported: ‘What was impressive about their talk was the fact that they ‘demystified’ the whole experience and were very reassuring: “If you get accepted to do Medicine then you will be able to cope.” I liked their comments on work ethic – “get the balance right… make sure you work hard and put the hours in where necessary but also make sure you give yourself time for recreational activities.” Sohum’s notes on what he put together before his interview were brilliant as it would help our boys know what ‘extras’ they need to prepare before their own interviews (e.g. reading around the topics; hopefully the Aske Projects would come in useful as well).’

Current MedSoc Chairman Purusotha Thambiayah (U6H1) said, ‘It is fair to say that there was a large amount of excitement that filled my fellow medics and I when Sohum and Ashvin pleaded to return to Habs to say hello to their teachers of the not-so-distant past and to give a talk on their experiences in their university lives so far. Indeed, some of the rumours and myths surrounding

Israel Reunion The Beit Kandinof bar and cultural centre in Jaffa, Tel Aviv was the venue for the second reunion of Old Boys and Girls from both Elstree Schools on 23 November 2017.

Habs Headmaster, Mr Hamilton and Director of The HABS Foundation, Mr Llewellyn, were delighted to be there and to catch up with so many friends.

R LLEWELLYN

Nonetheless, their laid-back approach to their talk and their use of anecdotal memories to illustrate their points was very effective. Both of them, having held high-ranking positions during their time in U6, shone through since they spoke with confidence and eloquence.

They also catered for our request to target the applicants with interviews at the most competitive medical schools (Oxbridge, UCL, Imperial etc.), and their advice was incredibly valuable: the art of note-taking, how to tackle difficult and stretching questions and how to maintain a work-life balance.

All in all, I think this goes to show that Old Haberdashers are an excellent source of advice when it comes to future generations of Habs boys, especially during this time of uncertainty with educational reforms and the political climate that we live in. In order to maintain the success of our university applications and the intellectual curiosity of the School’s societies; it is imperative that the work of The Foundation continues and that long-lasting bonds with old boys are strengthened.’

Thank you Sohum and Ashvin for your support, it was truly appreciated by the boys.

J SUCHAK

ANDREW MILLER AND CHRISTOPHER WATTS VISIT It was with great delight that we welcomed Andrew Miller and Christopher Watts (OHs 1993) back to the School on 7 December 2017.

Andrew, in addition to his career as a Booker Prize nominated novelist A D Miller, is one of the UK’s leading political journalists. Andy and Christopher participated in ‘A Conversation with…’ to an audience of pupils and staff.

The pupils found the event both interesting and inspiring. They listened intently as Andrew, prompted by questions from Christopher, spoke of his experiences in Russia and the US, even offering his thoughts on the future of politics with the Trump administration.

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this subject area have been an excellent source of gossip for the Haberdasher for many years!

Rishi-Nayan Varodaria (U6M2) was delighted to have his volume of Snowdrops signed by the author following the event. Thank you, Andy and Christopher, for visiting and inspiring our pupils.

J SUCHAK

MATT LUCAS AND ASHLEY BLAKER VISIT On 27 March 2018, the internationally renowned comic actor Matt Lucas (OH 1992) and the equally acclaimed writer and comedian Ashley Blaker (OH 1993) returned to Habs to give two performances. The first was a talk to Habs boys, where they spoke about their time at the School before opening up the floor for a Q&A session, and the second was a hilarious ‘in conversation’ performance later in the evening.

Using video clips, sound pieces and a multitude of impressions, Matt and Ashley treated the packed and delighted audience to a highly entertaining ‘travelogue’ of their time at the School, beginning (as every school term does at Habs) with a rousing rendition of ‘To be a Pilgrim’ and finishing (again as each school term ends) with Parry’s ‘Jerusalem’.

While reminiscing on what it had been like to grow up at Habs, often referred to in the media as ‘The Elstree School of Comedy’, former school characters were brought to life by the comic duo’s entirely affectionate humour, including tales of prank phone calls, damning school reports, sporting apathy, youthful stirrings of nascent careers in show business and of course reflections on comic japes hatched on the daily walk to and from the eponymous School coach park. Current members of staff such as Mr Holmes, Mr Bagguley and Mr Cook were also mentioned for their ability to inspire while sometimes being the subject of Habs boys’ notorious witty banter.

Matt said: ‘Ashley and I were delighted to be back at our old school. I have very fond memories of my time at

Habs and still keep in touch with some of my teachers, that I’m astonished are still working here today! It’s been a truly worthwhile performance. All proceeds from the ticket sales go directly to the School’s Foundation and will be put towards bursaries for bright boys to receive an exceptional education that their parents could otherwise not afford.’

Ashley said: ‘Returning to Habs to perform with my good friend Matt, in front of a sold out Bourne Hall, was absolutely brilliant and thoroughly enjoyable. I’m thankful to Mr Llewellyn and his team for organising the event.’

The School would like to thank Matt and Ashley for giving up their time to come in and perform twice in one day!

J SUCHAK

FOUNDER’S EVENING The School held a celebratory evening on 3 July 2017 to mark the completion of study by our U6 boys. The boys and their families enjoyed House farewells, drinks and canapés on the croquet lawn behind Aldenham House, followed by speeches and prize-giving in the Bourne Hall.

After a formal procession into the Hall, the Headmaster, Mr Hamilton, addressed the audience; expressing warm wishes and congratulating the boys, as well as acknowledging the contributions of their supportive families and teachers.

The guest speaker, former management consultant and venture capitalist, who has also held three board roles at top 10 UK internet retailers, Mr Jon Rudoe (OH 1996), offered wise words to the boys,

using humility as his theme, drawing from his own experiences – a brilliant, humorous and motivational speech.

School Captain Bruce Parris (OH 2017) offered the vote of thanks and spoke eloquently about the journey he had embarked on whilst at Habs – another thoroughly uplifting speech.

Mr Llewellyn, Director of The HABS Foundation, provided the final farewell to all. He explained what it meant to be an Old Haberdasher and reminded all of the importance of philanthropy in the history of the School, while exhorting all to keep in touch.

Prizes were awarded to the U6 by the Headmaster, the Second Master, the Deputy Heads and the Director of

TELEPHONE CAMPAIGN Over a period of two weeks at the end of August, The Foundation will be running its biennial telephone campaign. During this time our team of enthusiastic callers (all handsomely paid!), comprising recent School leavers and current Sixth Form members, will be able not only to share stories of Habs, old and new, with all members of the School community, but also ensure that all those contacted receive regular news and invitations to the many HABS Foundation reunions and School events being organised. We expect

to raise a lot of money to help provide facilities and bursaries that will allow the next generation of students at Habs to really benefit from their time here… and we also expect to have a lot of fun.

Going on past experience, we also expect many of the Old Boys and parents contacted to kindly offer work experience to our callers as well as volunteer to visit the School as a guest speaker and assist the School in many other ways.

Co-Curricular. Following the ceremony, the boys continued celebrating their successes and achievements with family, friends and teachers. It was a delightfully Habs evening; a wonderful occasion!

We look forward to hearing of many more achievements from the Class of 2017, who will always remain part of the Habs community.

R LLEWELLYN

Stay in touch with Habs Join Habs Community and get regular exciting email updates, invitations to events and become a part of a growing network of Old Boys, parents and former staff.

Online – www.habscommunity.org Facebook – /habsboys Twitter – @habsboys LinkedIn – Haberdashers’ Aske’s Alumni

R LLEWELLYN

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The Prep and Pre-Prep Schools are two of the best prep schools in the country. There is no question about this. The boys are given opportunities that are unparalleled by any other, from the education in the classroom and outside to the variety of sports offered to them. The quality of education provided is unlike any other, with intelligent students being paired with capable teachers with their student-teacher relationship being not only professional but also friendly. The trips that are run provide them with experiences and knowledge not many that age get to experience. Members of staff truly enjoy teaching them and put in lots of effort to see to it that they enjoy their time at the Schools.

Editing this section this year has made me realise the benefits of being in such an institution. I for one went to a state school and I have been able to see the difference and the impact a private education can have and the vast choices and chances the boys get to do things few others get to do. My role in the Skylark team has enabled me to see this and appreciate how much teachers do for us.

RISHI SHAH, L6

IN THIS SECTION Dublin Rugby Tour Science Quiz Championships Wonder Workers Show The Haunted House Biography of Steve Jobs

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115 115 115 116 116

Top Junior E-Cadets Collaborate Diaries: Katrin’s Return to Heimaey WWI Diary Entry

117 117 118

Trip to the National Gallery Letter to Albert Interview with Mr Judd

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DUBLIN RUGBY TOUR During the recent October half term, I was lucky enough to be part of the Dublin Rugby Tour which I absolutely loved. There were some fantastic experiences, including some fast-paced rugby. Here is a summary of what we did.

As I rose from my bed at eight in the morning, I felt a surge of nerves and excitement ready for our huge game against Willow Park. After a hearty breakfast, we had some pre-match training, where Mr Thomas and Mr Barnett explained a 5-man scrum and we were ready for our big game. A real highlight pre-match was being presented with our shirts in a small ceremony at the hotel, a little like they do in the Lions rugby tour. It allowed us to feel even more pride in what we were about to do and represent. During the game and after some excellent passing play, which enabled us to get over the game-line, we were rewarded with a brilliant try.

However, Willow Park came back with a try and we knew we were in a tense and exciting match. After some phenomenal teamwork we came out with a win 4-1 in our first tour match. This was one of many highlights during the trip.

The middle Wednesday was our rest day from rugby and so instead we went along to a local Dublin Gaelic games club called AFC Fianna and played Gaelic games, including hurling, which is the fastest sport played on feet, and Gaelic football. This was a lot of fun and much harder than it looks, as was the trip to

Croke Park, which is the largest stadium in Ireland. I learned so much about the culture of the Irish people and how important Gaelic was to each of the many communities in Ireland. After dinner we resumed some competitive table tennis against Mr Barnett, who eventually lost to me, I am pleased to say!

The next morning, our typical routine of pre-match training began before our second fixture against St Michael’s College in the afternoon, albeit with a slight twist. Before the session, Mr Fradd led a video analysis session where we watched some clips of professional players defending their try line. This really helped us picture what the focus of our next session would be.

The subsequent match in the afternoon was tough. Despite playing with a lot of heart, we came away with a 2-1 loss, which I feel should have been 2-2, if a Habs try had been allowed. There were still lots of happy faces however, as the other Habs team came away with a 12-1 win! Luckily, after the match we could swim and have a cool down in the pool.

SCIENCE QUIZ CHAMPIONSHIPS On 23 November 2017, two teams entered the National Inter-School Science Quiz Championships.

Competing against other prep schools, the boys collaborate to answer forty questions on a range of Science

topics. The team comprising of Tejas Bansal (6RB), Alex Pylypenko (6RB), Neerav Kedia (5MN) and Rian Shah (5SA) finished the event in third place.

The second team; William Mace (6LH), Henry Song (6LH), Shiv Gohil (5SL) and Neev Shah (5MN) ended the quiz in second place. With an impressively high score, this second team secured a spot in the semi-finals. On 7 December 2017 the boys competed in the semifinals. After collaborating to answer increasingly challenging questions, the boys finished in third place.

Congratulations to all the boys who participated.

G CAPLAN

Unfortunately, our last day finally came but we still had fun due to the Viking splash which, unsurprisingly, was very splashy and wet, not only because of the bad weather! It was part of an opentop tour of Dublin City Centre and we learned plenty of fascinating facts before our car turned into a boat and we sailed around one of the city’s docks! After the splash tour we headed to the airport and then, sadly, it really was over. This tour has been an amazing experience and was the best thing in the Prep School by far, not only because of the rugby, but also the opportunity to experience another culture. I won’t forget it.

AMAR SANGHRAJKA, Y6

WONDER WORKERS SHOW On 29 January 2018, a group of Year 6 boys attended the Wonder Workers Show presented by Dr Matt Pritchard.

The boys learned about the relationship between magic and science and how it was scientists who dictated what was performed at magic shows. The show explored how neodymium magnets were used to make objects float and how laser lights patterns could be influenced by music. The boys thoroughly enjoyed the event and thank Dr Chapman for organising and inviting Year 6 to the event.

G CAPLAN

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THE HAUNTED HOUSE I tiptoed through the crumbling black gates with the tall, menacing stone gargoyles that sent a shiver down my spine. I looked up. A solitary light flickered high above. A ‘Trespassers Beware’ sign hung limply on the dull charcoal wall as I slowly sauntered into the dilapidated front yard of the haunted house. A full moon was lurking in the background, glowing. Lightning crackled and lit up the sky. But there was smoke rising up out of the chimney. This was weird; I had always been told that the haunted house had been abandoned many years ago. Shaking with fear, I creaked open the dark oak door and gasped.

The place was a complete mess. Dusty curtains lay on the wooden floor and the weather-beaten window was cracked. The stairs snaked up like a prehistoric beast.

I trudged to the first room and ducked under the door that was hanging off its hinges. Without warning, the front door was blasted open. I had company. Without thinking I leapt from the door, rolled behind the lopsided piano and snatched up a crate to defend myself. But my pursuer had heard me and growled, ‘Who’s there? I warn you, I do not take kindly to trespassers.’ It was a man. I gulped.

Hardly daring to breathe, I crawled to the window and heaved desperately at the rusty handle. But it was locked. Footsteps pounded behind me and I dived like a dolphin for the unlit fireplace, quickly jumped up and scrambled urgently for some footholds. I failed.

Suddenly, a steely grip grabbed me by the waist and pulled me back into the room. A searing pain stung me in the back of the head as I banged it against the mantelpiece.

My attacker lunged. I dodged but he grabbed me again, harder this time. I just managed to deliver a sharp kick in the knee and he grunted loudly, his grip softening.

He leapt at me, his eyes full of hate, and wrestled me to the floor. I flickered in and out of consciousness, blinded.

All of a sudden, I woke up in a small, dark room with one door and no windows.

Horrified, I slowly got up and ran to the door, desperate for an escape. I tugged at the handle. But there wasn’t one! There was just a large fang-shaped keyhole. Silently, I cursed myself. My heart was beating as loud as a bass drum. Pounding the door, I shouted, ‘Let me out of here!’ I felt so sick I thought I was going to vomit. And it was a worse thing too that I was claustrophobic. I turned around and looked at the floor, tears welling up in my eyes. I jumped. An elusive clue lay right before me!

Or was I only dreaming? But there it was!

A three-centimetre crack between two planks of wood lay on the floor in front of me. Quickly, I tried to prise my fingers through the gap hoping for a secret tunnel or passage. I slowly grew weak. But desperation made me strong. Soon I had tugged three planks out, just enough for my skinny waist. Carefully I descended into the pitch-black hole wandering what might be ahead.

The first thing I saw was a line of flickering torches dancing daintily in a slight breeze.

The walls were blood red and made of cold stone. I knew this wasn’t a secret passage.

I also knew the man who lived here would soon be hot on my heels. I had to get moving, and fast. I decided to proceed with caution and try to cover my footprints on the damp soil. I could hear ear-splitting bangs and crashes echoing all around.

Sprinting, I knew I had to get out of here as fast as I could. Only 10 minutes later my leg muscles were screaming and my feet were aching as though someone had hit them with a hammer.

Meanwhile, a broad-shouldered man with blond close-cropped hair, scarlet eyes and a square chin accompanied by a sleek black wolf was charging though the tunnel. The man was carrying a shiny black dagger.

I barrelled onwards and stole a quick look back. Just making out two silhouettes, one large and one small, made me shudder. I started forward again, hit something hard and collapsed onto the floor. I writhed like a fish out of water as I was tied and gagged.

My eyes were as big as saucers as the man with broad shoulders and evil scarlet eyes unsheathed a coal-black dagger. In one quick move he lunged at me.

Everything went black…

ZISHAAN GHAFOOR, Y5

BIOGRAPHY OF STEVE JOBS Steve Jobs – the father of technology, the founder of Apple, Pixar and NeXT, the person who pushed the limits in technology and created one of the most valuable and successful businesses in the world – is the man I’d like to talk about in this biography. Steven Paul Jobs was born on 24 February 1955 to Abdulfattah Jandali and Joanne Schieble. Jandali quoted that ‘I was so in love with Joanne, but because of differences in religion, her father didn’t let her marry me’, meaning that Steve was given up for adoption and later adopted by Paul and Clara Jobs.

Jobs spent his early childhood in Mountain View, California and went to school there.

He didn’t like the teachers and was ‘a little bit of a terror’, so they moved schools, which was even worse. Steve was not from a very rich family, so it took a while to save up to move to Los Altos, CA and he liked it much more. In Los Altos, at the age of 13, Jobs met the 18-year-old Woz (Steve Wozniak) who was a fan of technology

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and loved electronics and circuit boards.

Without Woz, there would be no Apple. In 1973, Steve Wozniak created a replica of the video game classic Pong and gave the board to Jobs. Jobs then showed the board to Atari, a video game company, thinking that Jobs made the board, gave Jobs a job at Atari. Jobs worked at Atari, saving up for his impending trip to India, creating boards for video games.

When, in 1974, Jobs had enough money, he travelled to India for spiritual enlightenment. After about half a year, Jobs became a practitioner of Zen Buddhism, and he returned to the US. On his return, he was asked to make a board for the game Breakout. As Jobs had little experience with circuit boards, the count of microchips was high. To Atari’s surprise, the microchip count was reduced to 46 by Woz meaning that Jobs earned a lot more money and gave half to Woz. Jobs and Woz created Apple in 1976, and it was a small startup competing against

Microsoft and IBM. They created the Apple I, which had mouse control and a Graphical User Interface (GUI), which were amazing and innovative things which boosted Apple by a lot. A year later, the Apple II was invented and introduced at the 1977 West Coast Computer Fayre, which had updated hardware and software. In 1983, Jobs had a daughter called Lisa and named the next Apple computer the Apple Lisa. ‘Obviously, I named it after my daughter!’ said Jobs in an interview. His wife didn’t allow him to name a computer after their daughter, but Jobs made an abbreviation to disguise it. His net worth was over $150m now.

Everything went well until John Sculley, CEO of Pepsi became CEO of Apple. Due to differences in opinions, Apple made its last computer, the Macintosh, in 1984 and fell apart. Woz quoted that Apple had been ‘going the wrong way for five years’, left Apple and sold most of his stock.

Everyone left, including Jobs, and Jobs started up NeXT, a hardware and software manufacturer.

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In 1990, the NeXT Workstation sold for $9,999. After 3 years NeXT sold over 50,000 machines and due to competition, stopped making hardware. In 1996, NeXT released WebObjects which was a tremendous success. Web page developers used this tool a lot.

Jobs was also the founder of Pixar or ‘The Graphics Group’ as it was called before being renamed. In 1986, Jobs started a contract with Disney. Under John Lasseter’s creative chief-ship, Pixar produced hits like Toy Story 2 (1999), Finding Nemo (2003), Cars (2006), and WALL-E (2008).

Furthermore, Toy Story 3 (2010) was released. All of these were multi-awardwinning films.

Back in 1997, when Steve Jobs sold NeXT to Apple and joined Apple again with Woz, some elements from NeXT were taken into Apple and Apple started to grow again.

The desktop iMac was released in 1998.

Music playing programs were a trend then and Apple needed to show their strength by creating iTunes and the iPod. iTunes became the most popular music player, so Apple went up in value. Amazingly, in 2006, Apple became worth more than Dell, and Jobs sent a note to his colleagues that Apple was worth more than Dell. In 2007, the iPhone was released. It was absolutely groundbreaking. Unfortunately, in 2003, Jobs was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer.

When Jobs was told what medicines to

TOP JUNIOR E-CADETS COLLABORATE Just before Christmas, 24 pupils from the Boys’ and Girls’ Schools joined to complete a coding project to further enhance their ICT skills. Hosted by the Boys’ School, the students aged 9-11 teamed up in pairs and were initially tasked with decomposing a ‘flappy bat’ game, considering the various types of code they might require so as to make their own version. The cadets could then create their game for a specific purpose or target audience, including progressive challenges such as changing levels through broadcasting and introducing a score system. Pupils were then encouraged to continue with their project on Office 365 before submitting their final versions.

The projects completed were extremely impressive, many to a very high standard, and evidenced the students’ excellent level of engagement and the development of their computational thinking. Their ability to combine logic and creative thought to solve the problems posed was particularly impressive and all students made great progress.

The main highlight however, was observing the boys and girls collaborate so effectively throughout the project. For

many of the pupils this was one of their first experiences of working with a peer from another school. It proved to be a learning opportunity far greater than just ICT. We really look forward to the next collaborative project later this term.

Here are a couple of reflections from the boys on their experiences: ‘It was really fun working with someone of the opposite gender and coding together.

She pointed out some of my mistakes and I also shared with her some new things.

I enjoyed the first little task we did when we were matching ICT into old and new because some were difficult. We adapted the game on the board into a new version and it was enjoyable because we had to work together with someone we had never met before. Overall, it was a great experience and I would love for it to happen again.’

SAUL GRENFELL, Y5 Yesterday, I went to a coding activity with the Girls’ School and it was extremely fun. We did a lot of arguing with the girls and at first we hardly agreed. I was paired with a girl called Sophie Sanders. I enjoyed the first activity which was an old or new sheet. The flappy bat game was extremely hard to code and really pushed me but we did well in the end. Instead of a bat, we had a taco! I learned a lot of new things from her and she learned a lot of things from me. I learned how to make the background move and how to make a sprite automatically go down when you do not click the space bar. This was an extremely memorable experience that I will not forget and I really hope to do it again in the future.

JACK CLAPPER, Y5

take, he said that he would cure it using traditional methods. He continued to do that for nine months. Even though he knew he had cancer, he pressed on until his death on 5 October 2011.

The life of Steve Jobs shows just what hard work, good ideas, diligence and good friends can achieve in life. Jobs always said, ‘Life is going to hit you in the head with a brick sometimes! Don’t lose faith!’ and I feel that it is one of his best quotes.

Thank you for reading my biography of Steve Jobs.

ALEX PYLYPENKO, Y6

DIARIES: KATRIN’S RETURN TO HEIMAEY After an hour from leaving Iceland, we could now see home. However, from first sight I knew that there were big changes.

As we entered the harbour it was narrower and the sea was much smaller than before.

We docked at the harbour and saw solidified lava circling the town.

I ran off to where my house was, but now there was a wooden cross with Leifsdottir on it, when I realised my house had been buried, I broke into tears and my family tried to comfort me but it was too much.

My mum told me that some valuable items lay in the ash. I was heartbroken about all my childhood toys I had, from Christmas and my birthday.

Lots of other houses were covered in ash too, and the town now was much smaller.

The volcano stood above the town, towering. I would never have imagined how much ash was really going to cover.

Several houses and buildings, and the lava which nearly blocked the entrance to the port. There were now big boulders when you entered Heimaey which boats would now have to navigate but it’s better than the whole entrance being covered or we would have to somehow make a new port.

In the end, it wasn’t a catastrophe but still a terrible sight.

What I plan to do next is to forget about this and start my whole life again from scratch, like nothing never ever happened before.

ALBAN REDHEAD, Y6 On the choppy waters surrounding my beloved Heimaey, the boat gently rocked and my dread grew larger and larger, until my mother gave a little despairing cry to match the terrible omen that had awaited us. A great, towering wall of rock, Skylark 2017/18 ~ 117

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once a living flame loomed over the boat, black like the night skies. My concern and despondency for my family’s house grew, as the volcano’s after-effects had been visibly devastating. I, for some reason, was impatient to see the town’s dreadful fate.

As we arrived, the harbour was spotted with piles of ash, some nearly as tall as myself! I thought that the same fate had buried the proud house of prized possessions.

But oh, how wrong I was. Desperately searching this way and that, I scrabbled and scampered, frantically trying to locate my beloved house. Finally, I came across the sign that represented my house, now a great mound of smouldering ash, burying my beloved home. The dreaded truth seeped into me and hot tears sprang in my eyes. Sadness overwhelmed me.

Walking across the perimeter of the ugly pile of ash, I wept silently as I suddenly collapsed onto the sign and cried. The old antique grandfather clock, all gone and incinerated, somewhere hidden among the motionless obscurity. I wished I never looked at this desolate, bleak landscape, scattered by the devilish embers that had once burnt so ferociously in the midnight scene.

Looking back upon the once little town of my beloved neighbourhood, which was now a site of deadly ash, I could

not bear the feeling of grief, let alone the devastation of my feelings. I sat on a rock and began to cry, looking upon the ash-coated fields of Heimaey.

Most of the houses were completely buried in a huge heap of smouldering ash and embers. Many were also half-buried, smothering the interior in an endless choke of suffocation. But so, so few were left untouched, on the exterior, let alone safe from the deadly ash, but still, the interior had been snagged, incinerated and destroyed. Never had I ever seen anything like this.

JASON PAN, Y6 On the ferry back home, I couldn’t wait to be back in my good old house again.

My dad wore a forced grin on his face, but my mum looked anxious. The boat lurched forward and I thought to myself: the harbour looked different! As we stepped off the boat, I frowned because it seemed to me that Heimaey had become more hilly. Hills towered over where I was sure there would be houses. The rock on the hills was black like ash. Like ash… I banished the thought, and its connection to a volcano, and I skipped on across the road urged on by my father, grinning all the while, like a lunatic.

touched my shoulder and looked at me gravely. The news was like a blow to the stomach and I desperately shook my head in disbelief, hoping one of my parents would say, ‘I’m just kidding!’ None of them did and I remembered our little villa, with a balcony looking over the beautiful harbour was now buried under a mountain of cooled lava. On top of the hill was a little pole, and inscribed on it was Leifsdottir.

I was so angry that we had lost our house and all we had to show for it was a lousy pole, put by a complete stranger. The feeling of anger was replaced by total despair as my mother and father came to comfort me. My mother had pale cheeks so I could tell she had cried too. We looked upon the remainder of our house.

Black rock with ash and small rocks covered the whole height of the house until the only remainder of a once proud house was the chimney.

We would have to move to a different house by the different harbour near a different school. Everything was changing and I didn’t like it one bit, but I had to just carry on with life and put on a smile for my parents’ sake because I knew they were trying their best…

ROBERT LEONTE, Y6

As we neared the edge of town – where our glorious house used to be – my father

WWI DIARY ENTRY Dear Diary, Today I ended a life. I’m not sure how it happened but it did. I expected to feel something different, but I only feel one thing: guilt.

The day I enlisted was a dark day. All those posters of Lord Kitchener urging me to sign up. They were everywhere, and I saw them every day on the way to the mundane factory where I worked. Finally, I broke, I couldn’t take it anymore. The thought of fighting for our country with my comrades just inspired me even more to do it. So, I walked to Shepherd’s Bush and powered through the bustling crowds, barely making my way there without being trampled on. Hesitantly, I took a deep breath and tentatively filled out the application form. I chose to be a sniper which would mean I required special training for my aim. When I had finished, around me the crowd cheered, and I received slaps on my back and comments like, ‘You’ll be back by Christmas!’ I couldn’t wait. Or so I thought.

After some acutely brief training, we were sent on our way to France in a ship; the air buzzing with exuberance. A few of the other troops broke out into song, but me being my introverted self, I sat on my own gazing into the distance. The journey was violent as if the sea was telling us not to go. After an eternity, we finally 118 ~ Skylark 2017/18

reached France and we were greeted with a shocking sight. Men in uniform like ours lay immobilised on stretchers, crippled like the landscape before them. My comrades’ light moods were put out like a small flare.

Soon afterwards, we were ushered into a truck and packed tight like sardines in a tin. The journey was similar to the last one – seemingly interminable and dull with the mood having barely lightened. Hours later, we arrived at a poorly dug out trench where many men were lying down, a thin coat of grime settling on their dirty boots.

Other men were doing the same but had no shoes on revealing their swollen toes; this I realised was the devastating effect of trench foot. Hesitantly, I climbed in and found a space by myself. Under the duckboards beside me I heard the pitterpatter of scurrying rats. Around me men blatantly ignored me and only moved to vigorously scratch their lice-infested heads. After some time, the food was given out. All we received was a can of bully beef, bread, jam and a biscuit. Most of the men hadn’t washed in weeks and some had dysentery.

As darkness settled over the sky, I lay down on my bunk and, despite the noise, drifted off to sleep. I dreamed of a fullblown battle, blood gushing out of nearby bodies and my dream-self looked down to see multiple gunshot wounds, then

nothing. I sprang up panting like a dog and checked my body for bullet holes. I saw none and sighed with relief. Suddenly, I didn’t want to be here.

Days had passed since I had arrived and there had been little bloodshed. At that moment in time, I heard both shouts and shots further down the trench and the thunder of machine guns began. Steeling myself, I gripped my M1 Garand rifle and clambered onto the fire-step. Anxiously, I cocked my gun and tried to spot a target, scanning No Man’s Land, a hawk searching for prey. Unfortunately, I found someone. A towering brute of a German rose up from the trench, a murderous glint in his eyes. I raised my rifle, scope to eye and lined up the crosshairs to his head. Compensating for recoil, I pulled the trigger with a quivering hand. His head jerked back and blood sprayed out like a geyser. One shot fired, one man dead, one family destroyed. Guilt crashed down on me like a tsunami and thoughts swarmed in my mind. They screamed: ‘You killed an innocent man!’ other voices scolded back, ‘You were just doing your job’. In my heart, a burning sensation began to throb. I tried to shrug it off but that moment was stuck on loop.

It was something that I would remember forever.

JOSHUA MAN, Y6

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TRIP TO THE NATIONAL GALLERY On 23 January 2018, Year 6 went to the National Gallery. My mind bubbled with excitement at the thought of visiting this famous art house. However, we received some bad news, apparently there was a gas leak en route and the trip may need to be cancelled. Fortunately for us, the road was safe by the time we reached it so we were able to get through. After the joyous and noisy journey, we finally arrived at the impressive structure of the National Art Gallery.

We were split into two groups and set off in different directions to study and analyse some tremendous pieces of still life art. The first painting we saw was brilliant. The Dutch artist really captured the light and dark and the source of light was clear. He had painted an array of expensive and lavish objects from all over the world, each one precisely and neatly painted and every object was detailed and very cleverly designed.

There were many different aspects to the painting such as a bright colourful lobster, elegant wine glasses, an intricate mead horn and a beautiful Persian rug, all resting on a marble table. We then moved on to the painting we had been studying in Art, Luis Melendez’s Still Life with Oranges and Walnuts, and were able to answer all the questions asked by our guide. Again, like the previous painting the light was coming from one direction and Melendez really showed the tonal differences between the light and dark areas. Both paintings were stunning!

The final painting we saw before lunch was different from the others. It was in fact four paintings making up one set.

What we learned was fascinating. All the paintings were market stalls but showed different products being sold. Each represented one of the four elements!

One showed a man gutting fish, which was water, as fish live in water. The second was of a family cooking some meat, that one was the element fire, as there was fire in the oven heating the meat. The third conveyed a woman selling fresh fruits and this was a symbol of earth, as the fruits were grown in the ground. The final one showed some meat being hung out to dry in windy conditions, so obviously it represented the element, air. These pictures were my favourite, as they were so different from the rest since there were four unique stories linking the concept of elements.

This additional theme of elements was like a riddle that you had to work out, whereas with the other paintings what you saw was what it meant.

and the South Seas and was made up of tiny little dots. This painting was unique, as no other artist ventured into pointillism, but Georges Seurat decided to paint a picture out of dots!

Sadly, after a long and exciting day it was time to leave. What an extraordinary trip it had been. We had a fun and boisterous journey back and arrived at school on time for pick-up. It was brilliant and I would love to visit again!!!

CAMRAN ARYAN SINGH RIAZ, Y6

After lunch, we moved on to look at more well-known and beautiful paintings.

We saw The Ambassadors by Hans Holbein. It showed King Henry the VIII with his advisor and they were leaning on a table with a range of astronomical objects and musical instruments. It was a painting of great detail but one you could ask many questions about as it had many strange, random objects that didn’t quite fit in. The next painting we went to was a beautiful and detailed horse which reminded me of Joey from War Horse.

This horse was so detailed you could make out almost every strand of hair.

Our final painting took me back to Year 1, when we studied it. It was called Brittany

LETTER TO ALBERT Dear Albert, It has been a long time since I’ve seen you. I miss you and want to come back to the farm as I have just experienced a deadly battle. The fighting here is horrifying and what I have here is horrifying and I have to suffer the loss of my rider and second most trusted person I know, Captain Nicholls.

The scariest moment I remember was waiting for the enemy. Everything was silent. Then the first bullet was shot and it whizzed past my ear. ‘Charge!’ screamed Captain Nicholls as we galloped forwards across No Man’s Land. Captain drew out his large sword heading towards the enemy. Suddenly, the death-rattle of a machine-gun came and a hail of bullets skimmed past the top of my head. My heart thumped as weight fell off my back. Captain Nicholls

was shot and dead. I galloped and didn’t stop otherwise I’d have been trampled to death. Blind fear drove me on. I heard screams of fallen soldiers, explosions, the clashing of swords and gunfire.

Acrid smoke made me want to choke.

Human and horse corpses scattered the crippled landscape. The Huns’ trenches had twisted barbed-wire like snakes and grenades were being launched out every second killing innocent men. Quickly, I jumped over the trench and the enemies scattered. I ran and ran until I couldn’t hear the painful sound of battle.

When I went back I heard cheers of joy and laughing British voices. ‘We won!’ they all shouted and they seemed happy, but I wasn’t. I was horrified by how many dead friends and enemies there were. Most importantly I missed Captain Nicholls. I am angry with the Hun

as they killed our friends, but I also felt unsettled as they were just the same as us, young men and horses. They were also pressurised to go to war even if they hoped for the British to win. I had a few cuts and bruises and my legs ached, but some other men lost both their legs or arms. I even saw a horse with no back legs and no tail. So, Albert you were wrong. It is not exciting to go war and never will be. It’s painful, even if you don’t get hurt. And if you don’t get hurt you’re really, really lucky. To be honest if you don’t get killed you’re also very lucky. Please NEVER sign up for the army. Please Albert, just don’t. Trust me.

Yours Sincerely, Joey

ESALA JAYASURIYA, Y6

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INTERVIEW WITH MR JUDD On 27 March 2018, Rishi Shah and Rishi-Nayan Varodaria interviewed Mr Judd as he takes up the post of Headmaster of Leighton Park School in Reading this September.

What are your first memories of Habs?

Picture the scene: it’s October 1992, I walk into a supervision room in Cambridge and my tutor on my Postgraduate Certificate of Education has pinned up on the noticeboard a list of all the places where people are going on their long school placements. And my finger goes down the list and my finger lands on the name The Haberdashers’ Aske’s Boys’ School, Elstree and I thought, ‘What is that place? I’ve never heard of it!’ and given that I was standing in Cambridge, I thought, ‘Where is Elstree?’. That was the first time I’d heard of Habs. Dr Wilford, my tutor, told me it was absolutely the right school for me. I was a sceptical 21-year-old, and a bit put out having to go 25 miles from Cambridge. That’s really my first connection with Habs. I came into the Geography Department as a student teacher (they always had a student teacher in the spring term), and that’s where I started my teaching practice. As Mr Chapman (then Head of Department) left to become the Head of Geography at Warwick School, the then-Headmaster Mr Rolf encouraged me to apply for a permanent role, and Mr Dawson (the incoming Head of Department) offered me the job. I spent 12 years here, and I became the Housemaster of Strouts. I then left for five years and came back eight years ago as the Second Master.

That in summary is my history at Habs.

What are some of your best memories?

Having done so much here, there are two, perhaps three, things that brought me the most joy. The first which springs to mind is the teaching of geography – that’s been a thrill. Coaching the debating, a marvellous co-curricular enterprise, where we took the lads there right to the top where they won the national competition was a fabulous thing to do. Latterly, probably the most enjoyable job I’ve had here has been as the Executive Head of the Prep and PrePrep; this has been a bit of a left turn for me as I am secondary trained, but the two years have been absolutely thrilling, exciting and engaging for me.

What have been your favourite trips whilst here?

I’ve been on many fantastic art trips, and Modern Foreign Languages exchanges, but it’s probably the ones I wouldn’t have done myself that have been the most memorable. There is no way I would have gone down to the south of France to see fantastic works of art or to places like Munich, and it is definitely not that enjoyable being in a youth hostel in the middle of Dorset sharing a room with two other geography teachers. But what fun we had and I will always treasure the memories!

How has Habs life shaped you?

The last 25 years of my life have been associated with Habs, albeit I was away for five years. The School has entirely shaped my adult life and in one way, I have benefited from a Habs education myself, but not as a pupil. Habs has made me the professional that I am and I set very high benchmarks for myself

because Habs is a wonderful place to work. I am very proud to be associated with the School and would like it to be proud of me. Probably the greatest professional honour I’ve had was when Mr Hamilton asked me to be Second Master and I felt honoured when I took on that role, supporting him and being able to shape the School with him in the second part of his tenure. I have made some fantastic friendships and it has certainly improved my geography; when you do your degree, you think you understand it all. But it’s nothing like teaching it! I’ve enjoyed being able to impart that knowledge of geography too. Those teachers in the Geography Department were big professional heroes of mine; Mr Day certainly comes to mind… I am grateful to have been able to learn my craft from them.

Did you plan on being here for the 25 years you were?

It’s quite difficult to move on from Habs and it provides powerful reasons to stay.

We are incredibly well-resourced and the boys are delightful to teach; and something new always comes along.

I was offered various jobs elsewhere but never took them up as they didn’t present the same calling, they did not offer enough professional challenge. But now is a good time to move on and the past dozen years have given me good experience. I suspect I will be coming back to school events and hope to keep more than a professional relationship with the School.

What were your favourite school plays and concerts?

I was stage manager of four or five school productions at the beginning of my teaching career here; I really enjoyed that we did plays like Into the Woods and A Midsummer Night’s Dream. It was lovely but exhausting to do that; I enjoy music too and some of the concerts I’ve seen here, not least the spectacle of the Barbican Gala Concert, which is a thrill.

My favourite concert of the years has to be the Keyboard Concert. I love the keyboard and I look forward to it. Mr Muhley would save me a seat on the lefthand side so I could see the keyboard.

I love the diversity and the joys of this school.

Who can forget the amazing Model United Nations conference we run; it looks amazing and has run for 10 years!

It looks so different to how it began.

And the attempt at breaking the arm wrestling world record! Who couldn’t be proud of being associated with this school – look at the amazing sports centre we have opened, or the Prep School extension we are doing – it is thrilling to be part of it.

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Which changes have you been part of and have you impacted the most?

I was central to the implementation of the values initiative – so the roundel.

Also the advances we have made in the classroom with modern teaching and I’m really glad that we have been able to do that. As I walk away from the School I am very pleased that the Prep School refurbishment is happening; that is more of a physical embodiment of what I’m proud to have been part of.

But ultimately as a teacher, when I’m out and about on the streets, somebody stops you and recognises you for having taught them and impacted them and that is very special.

What advice do you have for us?

Be yourselves! Never listen if someone says you can’t achieve something and always test the possibility of what you can achieve. Hold your head high and I hope you all are running the world in 30 years’ time because I honestly think it would be a better place.

Parting words: Habs is a great place to be, and I’d do it all again; I wouldn’t go back and change it and I am very sorry to be leaving.

I think Mr Hamilton has been a wonderful Head for the School and has transformed it in the 16 years that he has been here.

I am able to say this with confidence, having seen the School with three Headmasters. I would say he took a bit of a dusty school right to the top. That doesn’t just happen you know – it takes some determination and I’m proud to have been on that journey with him. He wears his intelligence very lightly and I think time will show he was one of the great Headmasters of the School.

Thank you, Mr Judd, for taking the time to talk to us. Good luck in your new school!

What will you miss the most?

The dynamism and the articulacy of the boys which is quite special; my colleagues and the special magic which comes when very bright boys meet inspirational teachers.

What are your plans for the future?

I’m going to become the headmaster of a school in Reading – a school very different yet very similar to Habs. It is co-educational, day and boarding, it is a Quaker school (Leighton Park), physically the schools are very similar and it’s a very exciting endeavour in my career with exciting opportunities being the person leading the school.

Do you have any advice for your successor?

Enjoy it; it will pass in the blink of an eye.

Questions that make Mr Judd wonder…

Why does the Clock Tower never show the right time?

Why is it called the Kissing Gate – I have never seen anyone kissing there?

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COMMON ROOM

The Common Room year began with the Headmaster’s Garden Party which this year also acted as a celebration of Habs becoming the Sunday Times Independent School of the Year 2017.

It was a lovely event, and those in attendance enjoyed the delicious buffet and made ample use of the dance floor.

The thanks of the Common Room must go to the Headmaster for hosting us.

A slightly less formal social occasion was held in October for new colleagues as the Common Room travelled to King’s Cross for welcome drinks. This was, again, thoroughly enjoyed by all 122 ~ Skylark 2017/18

in attendance, not to mention sorely needed at the end of a long first half of the autumn term.

Life for the Common Room is not all parties though, and at the end of November, the call we’d all been awaiting for over a year finally came as we were visited for our mandatory compliance inspection. It was a challenging week, but I’m pleased to say we came through with flying colours, in large part due to the tremendous collaborative spirit and incredible efforts of the Common Room members.

The AGM followed in early December, giving an opportunity to reflect on the previous cycle, but also to welcome a new member to the Common Room committee as Emma Nairne replaced the outgoing Maya Brock. Maya has been an excellent and faithful servant of the committee during her time in the role and stepped down with the sincere thanks of the entire Common Room.

At Christmas, the Common Room, under the expert direction of Ben Rylands and Dave Cooper, took to the streets (and establishments) of Notting Hill for our annual Christmas social. It was

COMMON ROOM

great to see so many long-serving and new colleagues alike in attendance and sporting some suitably festive Christmas jumpers, and it proved a good way to wind down towards the Christmas holidays.

There have been several staff departures this year, and as ever, we are sorry to see so many wonderful colleagues move on to pastures new, but we wish them all the very best, and hope that they will keep in touch with the Habs community.

In the new year, February saw the return of the annual Valentine’s Quiz, hosted

by Geoff Kissane, in which the Modern Foreign Languages (MFL) Department snatched victory from under the noses of the Maths team in the final seconds with a controversial tie-breaker. It is, of course, the taking part that counts as ever, and a good time was enjoyed by all those who did.

At Easter, we waved goodbye to Kieran Fradd from the Prep School as he returned to his fatherland to teach at Monmouth School in Wales; Ysabel Bandell who had been providing maternity cover for Bushra Chaudhry in Chemistry; and Emily Hanson from Biology.

The most recent Common Room social of the year took place at the end of the spring term. Hampstead was the venue this time, and it was again great to see colleagues from across the School coming together regardless of department or seniority to round off a typically intense spring term.

We cannot continue at this point without making mention of our outgoing Social Secretary, Al Metcalfe.

Al stepped down from the role at the beginning of the year to spend more time on his pastoral duties, as well as his rapidly expanding family. He remains on the Committee but has relinquished social duties to Ben Rylands. I know that the entire Common Room will join me in thanking Al for his efforts over the last few years which have provided many fond and indelible memories; Ben certainly has big shoes to fill.

As the summer break approaches, we prepare to lose a further 16 colleagues.

First, there are those whose service has been brief, but no less significant: Caroline Tucker, this year’s AskePrinceton International Fellow, leaves us after a year in the English Department to study for her MA at the University of Chicago; Joe Fraser – our Graduate Director in Residence – along with German Assistant Ogul Nayci also both leave us after a year; Spanish Assistant Oscar Garcia leaves after four years in the MFL Department and Ernest Lennon departs after two years in the Theology & Philosophy Department to become the School Chaplain at St Edward’s School in Oxford.

We also say goodbye to some longerserving members of the teaching staff as Eleanor Simons leaves the Classics Department after six years at Habs – the last two as Head of Department – for Francis Holland School where she

will take over as Head of Classics; the History Department loses their own Head of Department as Alex Courtney moves on after seven years; Sinead McLeigh bids farewell to the Prep and Pre-Prep Schools to relocate to Ireland after 11 years of service to the School; and Jon Barnes leaves us to take up a role as Head of Maths at Alton School after 18 years teaching Maths at Habs, during which time he also took the chess team to domestic and international glory.

Impressive as these contributions are, however, they seem a comparative trice in contrast to this year’s retirees.

Altogether, this select group of colleagues have a combined 172 years of service at Habs! Firstly, Paul Dathan completes his 27th and final year at Habs this summer, whilst Nick Holmes declares his innings after 33 of his own. Both the DT department and the school will greatly miss these two fixtures of everyday life at Habs. Bidding farewell also is Lynn Bird who retires after 35 years of teasing artistic skills from generations of Haberdashers and following hot on her heels is Peter Barry with 36 years of loyal service to the Maths Department and the Athletics Club under his belt. Surpassing them all, however, is Biology’s Alan Bagguley who leaves us after a stunning 41 years of teaching at Habs, over two decades of which were also spent as Housemaster of Meadows. It is a great shame for the School to be losing so many longserving and distinguished colleagues

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at once, but we wish them absolute happiness in their retirement. It is certainly well-deserved!

Finally, we are also set to give a hearty send-off to two of our senior colleagues this year. Firstly, the Second Master and Executive Head of the Prep and PrePrep Schools, Matthew Judd, leaves us after a tenure of eight years to take up the headship of Leighton Park School in Reading. We wish him all the best for this exciting new chapter of his career in which I’m sure he will excel as he has done here.

And, of course, we also bid adieu to our Headmaster, Peter Hamilton, who has led the school for the past 16 years, a period of time which, amongst other successes, has seen the School named the Sunday Times Independent School of the Year. Peter leaves the school in excellent health, and the Common Room wishes him well in his retirement.

As well as waving goodbye to departing colleagues, we have also, as always, welcomed several new faces to Habs.

In no particular order, this year has seen the arrival of: Cory Cambridge in Theology & Philosophy; Loren Hooker and Caroline Tucker in English; Gemma Lyons in Economics; Michael Broadwith, Kim Harrison and Samantha Biggerstaff in Maths; James Smith, Dermot Reaney and Grant Elias in Physics; Samuel Coleman (maternity cover) in Biology; Antony McLarin in History; Christopher Redfern in Music; James Emery in the Prep School; Susan Edwards as Head of Geography; Melvyn Bardou as Head of French; and Kate Weber as Head of Art. We are delighted to have all of them on board for what will hopefully be the start of their own lengthy Habs careers.

Speaking of new faces, several members of the Common Room have also welcomed arrivals of their own this academic year, starting with Michael Broadwith, whose daughter Poppy Elizabeth Broadwith was born on 1 October 2017, and closely followed

by Al Metcalfe whose second child Maisie Florence Metcalfe was born on 5 December 2017.

The new year saw a further flurry of new life as four staff members in quick succession welcomed their own bundles of joy. First, Nathaniel Andrew Stiff was born to Phill Stiff and his wife Jess on 17 January 2018. Then, barely 24 hours later, on 18 January 2018, Andy Simm and his wife Amy brought us news of the arrival of Ella May Simm, followed just a couple of days later by the birth of Kitty Elizabeth Harrison-Bown to our very own Clare Harrison and James Bown on 21 January 2018.

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The Common Room was once again sending congratulations the way of Andy Lee a month later, as his son Rafael was born on 21 February 2018. Then the English Department was blessed with a brace of babies as first Will Brotherston and his wife Gemma on 25 April 2018, and then Josh and Sarah Plotkin on 6 May 2018 welcomed Skye Radha Brotherston and Maxwell Albert Plotkin to the world respectively. Finally, Nick Raven finished things off in style as he became a father for the second time on 25 May 2018 to Josephine (Josie) Pearl Raven, amazingly delivering his new daughter himself at home! As ever, the Common Room offers sincere congratulations to all of our new parents.

It has, in comparison, been a relatively quiet year for marriages and engagements. In fact, the sole honour in this category goes to Jill Gleeson, who got engaged to David Burton in November. David is a Crossrail engineer whom she first met in March 2015. We wish them the very best for their big day on 7 July 2018 and many years of happiness to come.

Regretfully, whilst we’ve welcomed a flood of new life into the world, we must also remember those former members of the Common Room who have passed this year. In November, we received the sad news that Stephen Wilkins, who taught English and Drama at Habs from 1973-2000, had died. There were several current staff members who hold fond memories of Stephen, and Andy Ward shared some kind words with the Common Room upon our receipt of the news. His funeral was attended on behalf of the Common Room by Nick Holmes and Roger Llewellyn.

In May, further lamentable news reached us that David Grossel, a former colleague in the History Department had also passed away. David taught History at Habs from 1973-1979, and whilst this was reaching a little further back in time, there were still one or two current colleagues who were able to share some amusing anecdotes of David’s time at Habs. He leaves behind his wife Lucy and two daughters. The Common Room would like to express their condolences to the families, and in both cases a minute’s silence was observed at break time as a mark of respect for our former colleagues.

Aside from the regular comings and goings, we also have some less regular news to report. Most notably perhaps, Habs has recently acquired a brace of champions! Firstly, Jon Barnes and his partner won the World Backgammon Doubles Championships in Monte Carlo last summer, and then, in May,

Tom Handley was crowned British Heavyweight Champion in Savate Kickboxing. Heartfelt congratulations go to both men from the entire Common Room for their amazing achievements.

Similarly impressive was Susan Edwards’ completion of the London Marathon in April in a time of six hours on a baking hot day. Sue has clearly caught the bug and has already entered the ballot for next year in the hope that cooler weather might allow her to shave some vital minutes off her time.

As well as sporting achievements, there have also been some members of the Common Room finding fame in the media this year. In the autumn term, Alex Courtney appeared on national television in BBC Two’s Elizabeth I’s Secret Agents, whilst three of our Geographers – Robert Cooper, Nerys Fielden and Ashleigh McGrath – had an article published in the periodical journal Teaching Geography.

And this article would not be complete without making mention of another monumental achievement by a beloved staff member. At Easter, our very own Head of Maths and Common Room Chairman Andy Ward celebrated his 30th year at Habs. Characteristically, he made light of the occasion, but this did not stop us from marking the occasion with a drink in the Battle Axes as he reflected on his long service at Habs.

Well done Andy!

It has been another packed year for the Common Room. Life at Habs remains busy as ever, and we look forward with relish to the end of year summer social as a chance to unwind and reflect on the events of the school year. Through all the comings and goings, births, marriages, passings and achievements, the unsurpassable spirit of the Common Room remains constant. It is a genuine privilege to work with such dedicated, affable and resourceful people, and I’m sure I speak for the entire Common Room when I say: long may it endure.

A PEARSON

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The Haberdashers’ Aske’s Boys’ School

Nurturing Excellence Headmaster – Peter Hamilton MA

Butterfly Lane, Elstree Hertfordshire WD6 3AF 020 8266 1700 office@habsboys.org.uk www.habsboys.org.uk

FAREWELL So the final Act closes in the Play that has been my personal journey at Habs. It started way back in April 2002 and just as the Class of 2018 depart, so do I. Was it a comedy, a tragedy or a tragi-comedy? At times all of these , at times none of these and then at times so much more. I am simply grateful to have had the opportunity to have worked in one of the finest schools in the world with so many outst anding teachers and support staff, with parents who understand the value of a complete education and with pupils who are quite simply beyond compare.

In this, our School, our boys learn every day, every hour, every minute how to act out all the roles that will fall to them. They learn to arrive at balanced judgements in the evershifting, changing landscape that will be the backd rop to their roller-coaster lives. As they look, learn, listen, explore, challenge, I hope they also reflect on the fact that they will need great powers of insight and empathy to navig ate through those complex seas that will be the theatres in which they will operate, be that business, education, medicine, law, whatever.

So final words of advice to those who remain?

Keep quite simply to those collective values that have guided us all throughout our journeys at Elstree – integrity, academic endeavour, kindness – and then you will doubtless all weave the very finest of webs in the best of all possible worlds.

I wish you all good fortune.

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PETER HAMILTON HEADMASTER

MA GAZ I NE 201 7/1 8 THE HABERDASHERS’ ASKE’S BOYS’ SCHOOL Butterfly Lane, Elstree, Hertfordshire WD6 3AF 020 8266 1700 office@habsboys.org.uk www.habsboys.org.uk